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 toriendofstory and B. Chaps/Freedom Stratton.
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.
toriendofstory- “Cool For Now”
toriendofstory is an indie-pop songwriter and singer from Albany. Some of her musical influences include Adele and Maggie Rogers, tying them into her music. She fuses powerful ballads and indie-style production to create a universally loved sound. She takes her listeners on a journey through relatable emotions, bringing people together with her range and strong vocals.
B.Chaps/Freedom Stratton– “Sundaze”
B. Chaps and Freedom Stratton are both MCs, born and raised in Albany. B. Chaps comes from an instrumentalist background with experience as a songwriter, producer, and engineer. Additionally, he has experience working in Albany’s premier studio. Freedom Stratton comes from a performance background. He is a trained actor, dancer, and vocalist with formal education in performing arts schools. Together the two have amassed millions of streams and worked with many reputable labels and artists.
Splitting the bill on a 23-date trek of North America which commenced in the Pacific Northwest in early August, dubbed the Summer Odyssey Tour, indie-rock heavyweight Beck and French pop rockers Phoenix descended upon the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT this past Wednesday evening, September 6.
Beck | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
No strangers to one another, Beck joined Phoenix during their Los Angeles residency at the Fonda Theater in 2018, performing the tracks “Lost Cause” (Sea Change, 2002) and “Jack-Ass” (Odelay, 1996). And this past June, the two artists joined forces on a new single titled “Odyssey,” with vocals from both Beck and Phoenix’s lead singer Thomas Mars. Prior to the collaboration, Phoenix released Alpha Zulu (Glassnote Records) in November of last year (their seventh studio album), while Beck most recently issued his fourteenth studio album Hyperspace (Capitol Records) in 2019.
Thomas Mars of Phoenix | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
On a late afternoon filled with sweltering heat, the festivities kicked off promptly at 5:45 pm as the first of two opening acts, Sir Chloe, took to the boutique amphitheater stage nestled along the Long Island Sound waterfront. Despite the early start time on hump day, the quintet hailing from Bennington, VT, led by frontwoman Dana Foote, had amassed a strong contingent of die-hard fans along the steel barricade of the general admission floor area. Although their set was over all too quickly, the collection of young alt-rock musicians (rounded out by Foote’s brother Palmer, Teddy O’Mara, Emma Welch and Austin Holmes) made the most of their allotted 25-minutes while braving 90+ degree temperatures – particularly that of Foote, who rarely stood still.
Sir Chloe | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
As the picturesque, 6,000-capacity venue that opened in July 2021 continued to fill up with fans of all ages, Natalie Laura Mering, professionally known as Weyes Blood (pronounced Wize Blood), was next up to perform support duties on behalf of Beck and Phoenix. Born in Santa Monica, CA and raised in Doylestown, PA, Mering is touring in support of her fifth studio album, And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop), released in late-2022. A talented artist whose musical catalog crosses several genres – chamber pop, indie pop, folk rock, noise music and experiment rock – Mering sported an elegant, off-white dress with a flowing cape while backed by a guitarist, bassist, drummer and keyboardist. Her set piece was decorated with numerous candelabras perfectly matching the romantic tone of her glorious, nearly 45-minute long set.
Weyes Blood | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The sun having mercifully set and temperatures finally bearable beneath the amphitheater’s massive canopy, co-headliner Phoenix entered stage left at 7:40 pm to a raucous ovation from the packed house. With a history dating to 1995, when Phoenix started releasing synth pop singles which were later featured in their debut album United (Rhino/Parlophone) released in 2000, the band has remained unchanged since their formation, comprised of the aforementioned Mars, Deck d’Arcy (bass, keyboards), Christian Mazzalai (guitar) and Laurent Brancowitz (guitar, keyboards). In Bridgeport, the French band was rounded out with touring musicians Thomas Hedlund (drummer) and Robin Coudert (keyboards, percussion).
With a stage backdrop of stunning visuals continually plastered across a jumbotron video wall, Phoenix offered up an 18-song set spread across five albums in their discography, with the most presentations (eight in total) coming from their 2009 studio album, and fourth overall, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (V2 Records). Mars and his bandmates transformed The Amp with the lushness and beauty of their arrangements, exquisitely balancing swirling guitars and synthesizers on songs such as “Lisztomania,” “Too Young” and “Love Like a Sunset, Pt. 1,” with its guitar ostinatos and driving percussion.
Phoenix | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
As the set turned for the homestretch, the beloved group from Versailles gifted their fans “Funky Squaredance,” with its country-inspired slide guitar couple with bluesey-funk and “Winter Solstice,” a tune drenched in vocal distortion and building synths. Before Phoenix’s night closed with “1901,” the tune which propelled the band to immense popularity and recognition, the charismatic Mars thrilled his fans by leaving the stage for a journey into the crowd, making his way to the rear of the venue, and back again. He paused several times along his route, interacting with ecstatic souls who would no doubt remember this night forever.
If Phoenix weren’t enough to satisfy your indie rock taste buds, there was still one headliner left – Mr. Beck David Hansen of Los Angeles, CA – who if you don’t know, rose to fame in the early-1990s after living in a rat-infested shed and dead broke. Armed with a Silvertone 1448 guitar made of particle board that he bought from the Sears catalog, the lo-fi, art pop musician guru would never look back as he released album after album to critical acclaim, beginning with the breakthrough single and worldwide hit “Loser” from 1994’s Mellow Gold.
Appearing onstage with musicians that have contributed to his success in one way or another during the span of his 35-year career, Beck’s set got underway at 9:40 pm with “Devils Haircut,” lifted from his fifth studio album Odelay (DGC Records) released in 1996. Beck would later bequeath upon his faithful listeners two more incredibly successful singles from said album including “The New Pollution,” and the final number of the set, “Where It’s At,” a tune during which he would be accompanied onstage by Phoenix, Weyes Blood and Sir Chloe for an epic party atmosphere conclusion, complete with a conga line.
Beck & Co. | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The crowd already in a fervor from the jump, a performance of the humorous ode to a girl named “Debra” from Beck’s seventh studio album released in 1999, Midnite Vultures (DGC Records) at the half-way point put us all over the top. Hilariously improvising his signature falsetto lyrics as the soul R&B-ballad pastiche went along – about meeting a girl named Jenny who works at JCPenney and who had a sister named Debra that Beck wanted to ‘get with’ – I had to reproduce some of them here:
I just wanted to do something nice for her, to show her how much I cared. So, I went down to Bed Bath & Beyond. And I went straight to the back, to the beyond section. And in the beyond section, there’s a little door. That’s where they keep all the potpourri and the scented candles and the apricot exfoliator. I bought all that shit. And I loaded it up in the car. And I drove down to the shopping center where she works. And I came to surprise her after work on a Wednesday night. I said “Lady, step inside my Hyundai.”
Beck | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The hits kept coming, including “Gamma Ray” and “Chemtrails” from 2008’s Modern Guilt (DGC Records/XL Recordings), “Lost Cause” from 2002’s Sea Change (Geffen), and of course a duet execution of “Odyssey” with Mars reappearing to contribute his share of the vocals. As the clock struck 11:00 pm and the show neared its denouement – having showcased more than two decades of material traversing eight albums (from Stereopathetic Soulmanure released 1994 via Flipside Records to Colors released in 2017 via Fonograf Records) – the summer party was officially over, and I was glad to have been invited. The Summer Odyssey Tour wraps on September 10 with an outdoor gig at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD.
Phoenix Setlist: Lisztomania > Entertainment > Lasso > Too Young > Girlfriend > Alpha Zulu > Ti Amo > After Midnight > Armistice > Love Like a Sunset, Pt. 1 > Love Like a Sunset, Pt. 2 > If I Ever Feel Better > Funky Squaredance > Tonight > Winter Solstice > Rome > Trying to Be Cool > 1901
Beck Setlist: Devils Haircut > Mixed Bizness > The New Pollution > Qué Onda Guero > Girl > Wow > Nicotine & Gravy > Debra > Gamma Ray > Soul of a Man > Chemtrails > The Golden Age > Lost Cause > Odyssey (Beck & Phoenix cover) > Dreams > Loser > E-Pro > One Foot in the Grave > Where It’s At
The 11thSummer Hoot was held August 25-27 at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY. Three days of family, friendship, camping, combined with music, music, music. Two performance stages (affectionally named Toshi and Pete after the Seegers), located at the base of Hoot Hill, showcased a plethora of local and national acts.
The Mammals
Tucked away in a lower-level location the Magical Music Campground hosted the Jubilee Jam tent. Jams ran continuously day and night for the many who brought instruments with them.
Jubilee Jam Tent
The Hoot utilizes the entire Ashokan Center. Music isn’t confined to specific performance locations. At the instrument petting zoo, the young (and young at heart) could be found creating their own special sounds. Impromptu collaborations were popping up everywhere you turned. Even backstage, musicians arriving could be seen joining in with those warming up before their set.
Future musician at the instrument petting zoo
Nature did not sit by silently for the Hoot. Floating on the sweet Hudson Valley air the rippling sounds of the Esopus Creek filled your ears while strolling through the grounds. With the setting of the sun, the crickets would emerge to accompany the music flowing from the stage, chirping in rhythm.
Jordan Hamilton
The Summer Hoot performers included The Shaker (feat. Simi Stone) opening the Hoot on Friday evening. Brooklyn-based Oliva K and the Parkers playing twice, on Friday and Saturday. Kingston’s Pulso De Barro sharing their Son Jarocho style of music. The City Stompers giving an exhibition of Appalachian Clogging with Furnace Mountain supplying the musical backdrop.
The City Stomperswith Furnace Mountain
Saturday night a bonfire singalong took people into the late evening. As the clock struck midnight, Cellist Jordan Hamilton performed an intimate set in the Pewter Shop. If you had the energy, the late-night jam at the Magical Music campground took you till the morning light.
Mike Merenda and Ruthy Ungar
To reach 11 years for an event is not an easy thing. The effort is huge. Without co-creators Mike (Merenda) and Ruthy (Ungar) none of this would be possible. To say they are the heart and soul of the Hoot is an understatement.
Pulso De Barro
Across the three day these two are going nonstop. Greeting everyone, introducing performers, and sitting in with many performers. Topping it off their band The Mammals closed out the Toshi stage Saturday night.
Oliva K and the Parkers
On the face of it, the Hoot is all about the music. But there is so much more. Creativity plays a special part. From original songs shared, yoga and breathwork sessions to calm your soul, along with food and crafts offered by local artisans.
Cole Quest & the City Pickers
Drawing from the Ashokan Center, the spirit of family and community is another cog that makes up the Summer Hoot. Many people brought their young children. Some people even brought their own parents. If you didn’t know the person next to you it did not matter. Everyone is family when you are at the Hoot.
Families enjoying the Summer Hoot
A musical chord can be referred to as a triad. Three notes played together achieving a harmonious outcome. The combination of music, creativity, and the spirit of family and community construct the chord that is The Summer Hoot.
The Park Theater Foundation has announced its lineup of events for September, which includes Sydney Worthley, Big Eyed Phish, a local showcase of more Capital Region artists, and even a comedy night.
The Park Theater was the first movie theater in Glens Falls upon its opening in 1911. In 1937 the theater was converted into a printing plant for the Glens Falls Post, and it was changed back to a performing arts center in 1984. After renovations in 2014, it reopened as a theater in 2018. The venue’s mission statement is that it would like to enhance the community and quality of life in Glens Falls by providing a venue for affordable entertainment and educational opportunities.
For the full performance listing or to purchase tickets, visit here.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 2-“Rewind At The Park”
The Park Theater Foundation presents “Rewind At The Park” featuring Big Eyed Phish (The Dave Matthews Tribute Band). Based out of Rochester, they are the only touring full eight-piece Dave Matthews Band Tribute in the country. Sing along to all your favorites and experience an unforgettable evening of music! Tickets are $20, and the day of the show is $25, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14-“Live & Local: Songwriter’s Showcase”
The Park Theater Foundation presents “Live & Local: Songwriters’ Showcase” – an intimate evening featuring some of the Capital Region’s favorite songwriters. Hosted by performer, producer, and engineer, Josh Morris, these artist-in-the-round performances allow audiences to hear local musicians’ songs and the stories behind them. This month’s artists include Josh Morris, Luke Pascarella, J. Lee White & Caitlin Barker. Tickets are $10, with day of the show tickets at $15. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 21-“Third Thursday Jazz”
Experience some of the best jazz music in the Capital Region with “Third Thursday Jazz” with The Matt Niedbalski Trio featuring Adam Siegel (saxophonist) and Jason Emmond (bass). Tickets are $10, with doors opening at 7 p.m.
Sept. 27-Listening Party
The Park Theater Foundation hosts the Rochmon Record Club for a series of listening parties. Hosted by Chuck Vosganian, this listening party will focus on David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). Tickets are $12, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 29- “Comedy After Dark”
The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Comedy After Dark’ featuring highly-acclaimed New York-based comedian, Gabe Mollica. He is bringing his hit Off-Broadway comedy show to the Arts & Entertainment Gateway of the Adirondacks for the first time. Directed by Greg Walloch (Hasan Minhaj’s Homecoming King), Gabe Mollica’s Solo explores male friendship in his 30s. Tickets are $22, with day of the show being $25. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30-“The Park Presents”
The Park Theater Foundation presents “The Park Presents” featuring alt-Americana artist, Caleb Caudle, with special guest, Sydney Worthley, live on Sept. 30, 2023. Heavily driven by songwriting, Caleb Caudle blurs the lines of folk, roots, country, and bluegrass. He has made appearances at Merlefest, Cayamo Cruise, Luck Reunion, and Mountain Stage. Sydney Worthley is an indie pop artist from Albany. Tickets are $15, with the day of the show being $20. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
It was rain-soaked double header in Cooperstown on Friday, August 25th, as a near-capacity crowd braved the elements at Brewery Ommegang for a pair of headlining sets from legendary alternative rockers Pixies and Modest Mouse. Along with support from critically acclaimed opening act Cat Power, the powerhouse bill proved to be a home run with fans of all ages, despite some minor curveballs thrown by Mother Nature.
Upon arrival, the ominous sky over Brewery Ommegang felt only fitting. That’s because every time DSP Shows bring Modest Mouse to town, dating back to their first visit in 2014 and again in 2021, the weather seems to head south just prior to showtime. The same was true this year when opening act Cat Power had to abruptly cut their set short when it started raining cats and dogs in an absolutely torrential downpour that sent fans running for cover under the tree line.
Dark Center of the Universe: An ominous sky over Brewery Ommegang felt only fitting on 8/25/23.
Doing little else to detour the remainder of the show, however, the audience was quick to embrace the soggy scene and use the minor rain delay to fill up their beer cups and grab some merch of which there was plenty. A simple glance around the grounds showed that while many fans were already sporting their brand new (and dry) Pixies and Modest Mouse threads, plenty of bands they’ve helped influence were represented as well. Twenty-somethings wearing shirts for bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Built to Spill, along with newer acts like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and The Strokes, but it was the surprising amount of Deadheads and Ramones fans in the audience that proved just how diverse the appeal of this show was.
Fire It Up: Modest Mouse was “beautifully bold” in their return to Cooperstown on 8/25/23.
Taking the soaking wet stage shortly after 8pm and greeting the audience with his best impersonation of an old-time radio sports announcer, Modest Mouse front-man Isaac Brock immediately connected with the crowd with some playful baseball banter, before ‘leading off’ with “Dark Center of the Universe,” one of the groups oldest and most iconic songs. Comfortably dressed in a sweatshirt depicting magic mushrooms, on deck was the infectious groove of “Tiny City Made of Ashes,” which the band seemed to jam on for a minute before Brock gave his OK to “Fire It Up.” Then came a pair of songs that helped introduce Modest Mouse to the masses back in 1996 with the first two tracks from their debut album This Is a Long Drive For Someone With Nothing to Think About.
A beautiful and always appreciated “Dramamine” would seamlessly segue into “Life Like Weeds,” before the angst-ridden rock of “Breakthrough” would fall just shy of turning the muddy grounds into an all-out mosh pit. Cooling off the aggression with some of Brock’s signature thought provoking lyrics, “Baby Blue Sedan” had sentimental fans singing along to the lyrics of “I am doing the best that I can” in a touching moment of solidarity.
“Sad song, last dance and no one knows who the band was, except this one mattered and I felt it had a spirit.” – Issac Brock
Up next came “Back to the Middle” from Modest Mouse’s most recent album, 2021’s The Golden Casket, before Brock would swap out his guitar for a banjo and deliver a playful backwoods rendition of “This Devil’s Workday.” His intense delivery and ferocious growls often overshadowing the brilliance of his songwriting, Brock’s unique perspective and ability to translate surrealism into words have long made him among this generations most thought-provoking lyricists.
After busting out the beloved B-Side of “King Rat” and then 1997’s “Heart Cooks Brain,” Modest Mouse would then get the crowd singing along with the recent radio hit “We Are Between,” before Brock would really sink his teeth into the performance with a jaw dropping version of “The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box,” which featured Isaac playing the guitar solo behind his head and then with his mouth! Falling just short of going full blown Marty McFly, the kids at Ommegang absolutely loved Brock’s vintage rock-star antics here and would erupt even further when the song seamlessly transitioned into the chart topping “Float On,” the bands breakout hit from 2004’s Good News For People Who Love Bad News.
Following“The Whale Song,” the quick 75 minute, career spanning set would come to a close with another upbeat singalong, “Dashboard.” Fantastic, focused and swinging for the fences, the amount of “good songs” this band still had left in their arsenal is quite a testament to just how deep and diverse their catalogue runs.
Modest Message: “Don’t worry, even if things end up a bit too heavy we’ll all float on.”
With two bonified headliners on the same bill, there was a strong showing of followers for each. Between sets, it was a playful conversation starter to ask which of the two you were really there to see. While the majority didn’t hesitate to say “both,” I was surprised by just how many blamed the Friday night out on their partners, saying “oh, my wife loves the Pixies, she was obsessed with them in high school,” as if there was some kind of wrong answer or guilt for admiring either of these groups and still listening to them.
After a brief “7th inning stretch”, suddenly the lights went dark and the legendary Pixies stepped up to the plate using The Beatles “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” as their walk-up music. Stoic, confident and fierce, the band opened up their performance with fan favorite “Gouge Away,” followed by two more songs also from the bands iconic 1989 album Doolittle, “I Bleed,” and “Crackity Jones,” before going all the way back to the beginning with “Isla de Encanta” from their earliest album Come on Pilgrim.
A lot of Doolittle: Pixies performed 9 songs from their iconic album Doolittle on 8/25/23.
With the current lineup consisting of original members Black Francis, Joey Santiago, and drummer David Lovering, the band would name Paz Lenchantin as their permanent bassist in 2016. Providing ample energy on the low end, the crunchy groove of “Planet of Sound” never sounded better as bandleader Black Francis belted out at the near full moon, before “There’s A Moon On” had fans dancing under it. Black Francis, the type of guy that wears sunglasses at night, appeared to be dressed for a funeral, but make no mistake, Pixies are alive and well in 2023. Often imitated, never duplicated, his primal and raw delivery sounded as visceral this night as it did 30 years ago.
With his distinct vocal style ranging from dynamic bloodcurdling shrieks, to melodic, near spoken word nonchalance, his lyrics remain as cryptic and open to interpretation as ever. We’d get a healthy dose of the new stuff next with a “triple play” of songs from their latest album. 2022’s Doggerel, before bringing the audience back to more familiar territory with some of their biggest tunes like “Here Comes Your Man,” “Motorway to Roswell,” and “Caribou,” which the person next to me hailed as their best song.
Here comes your frontman: Black Francis was in fine form at Brewery Ommegang on 8/25/23.
While many romanticize about the Pixies and their obvious influence on 90’s music, you don’t often think of them as a romance band meant for date night. The fans at Ommegang, however, never got that memo as couples all around found great joy in reliving the soundtrack of their youth, stealing kisses in the key moments, savoring every second as one of their all-time favorite groups serenaded them under the misty, cinematic skies. Enchanting and magnetic, Paz Lenchantin, the original bass player of Maynard James Keenan’s A Perfect Circle and Billy Corgan’s Zwan, here now as a Pixie, seemed to be having the most fun out of everyone. Headbanging through the fog and shadows on her beautiful Fender 69 P-bass, picking away on classic tunes like “Hey,” “Cecilia Ann” and the crowd pleasing “Debaser.”
Debasser: Paz Lenchantin picks away on classic Pixies songs on 8/25/23.
Bright, loud, and beautiful, fans knew almost every word to every song for the remainder of the show. From 1987’s “Holiday Song,” to another pair of hits from Doolittle, a surfed-out version of “Wave of Mutilation” and the climate change wakeup call of “Monkey Gone to Heaven” that saw the often experimental Francis take sonic frequencies to the warning track, building a wall of swirling distortion as he shoved his guitar into the amps creating intentional feedback. The career spanning set wouldn’t be complete, though, without the most well-known song in the Pixies catalog, “Where is My Mind?”
Gone to Heaven: Pixies performed a Hall of Fame setlist on 8/25/23.
While playing it every night may feel like a chore for some members of the band, it was quite clear that it still resonates after all these years and that the next generation of kids who only know Pixies from the 1999 David Fincher film Fight Club – were here for it too. Holding their phones up in lieu of lighters, the massive field of cellular fireflies created a stunning visual image and a feeling that you were experiencing an epic moment in time courtesy of one of Rock’s most influential bands. While the show could have ended there and no one would have complained, we were then treated to one final ‘call to the bullpen’ for a cover by one of the original pioneers of Punk. Closing the show with a searing rendition of Neil Young’s “Winterlong” to put an emphatic stamp on a fantastic 26-song set of timeless alternative anthems. Convening at the center of the stage to take their bows, fireworks began illuminating the night as the Pixies slowly faded into it, triumphantly bringing another successful Summer Concert Series at Brewery Ommegang to a close. A bitter-sweet realization, but hey, as they say in baseball, “there’s always next year.” We’re already looking forward to it.
Pixies closed out Brewery Ommegang’s Summer Concert season on 8/25/23.
Pixies | August 25, 2023 | Brewery Ommegang | Cooperstown, NY
Setlist: Gouge Away, I Bleed, Crackity Jones, Isla de Encanta, Planet of Sound, There’s a Moon On, Who’s More Sorry Now?, Get Stimulated, The Lord Has Come Back Today, Mr. Grieves, Death Horizon, Here Comes Your Man, Motorway to Roswell, Snakes, Caribou, Hey, Doggerel, Cecilia Ann*, St. Nazaire, Debaser, Cactus, The Holiday Song, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Wave of Mutilation**, Where is My Mind?, Winterlong***
*The Surfones cover **UK Surf version ***Neil Young cover
Modest Mouse | August 25, 2023 | Brewery Ommegang | Cooperstown, NY
Setlist: Dark Center of the Universe, Tiny City Made of Ashes, Fire It Up, Dramamine > Life Like Weeds, Breakthrough, Breakthrough, Baby Blue Sedan, Back to the Middle, This Devil’s Workday, King Rat, Heart Cooks Brain, We Are Between, The Ground Walks, With Time In a Box > Float On, The Whale Song, Dashboard.
Rhode Island born pop-artist JVKE took the scenic stage at the Rooftop at Pier 17 this past Wednesday, August 30th. Fans from all over – and many of them younger kids with their parents – flocked to see the “golden hour” singer put on his This is What Tour Feels Like show.
JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun
JVKE, blowing up in part on TikTok for songs like “this is what falling in love feels like” and “this is what sadness feels like,” previously played at Irving Plaza on January 25th. Crafting songs with his producer-brother Zac truly transformed JVKE’s music into the masterpieces they are today. The body-shaking beats, powerful vocals, and intricate piano accompaniments have created a sound so uniquely him. Aside from the beautiful melodies and productions of each song, JVKE’s lyrics touch on heavy subjects like love, heartbreak, sadness, and acceptance in the most unfiltered and gut-wrenching way.
JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Before the show began, a robotic-like female voice came on and introduced itself as JVKE’s emotional intelligence. The stage was set up like his bedroom, with JVKE even sporting a pair of plaid pajama pants and a black oversized hoodie. As he journeyed through his this is what ____ feels like album—which is divided into four groups of three songs—he made a point to give a small anecdote for each by detailing his experiences with certain people and emotions. For example, during “this is what heartbreak feels like,” “i’m not okay,” and “ghost town,” JVKE described the betrayal and utter hopelessness he felt after his first breakup. Before singing songs “this is what falling out of love feels like,” “catch me,” and “i can’t help it,” he described his initial struggle but ultimate success in moving on from that past relationship. JVKE is truly a talented storyteller, as emotions were at an all-time high throughout the whole show.
JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun
During “golden hour,” JVKE sat down at his bedroom desk and began playing the iconic opening notes on a keyboard that laid there. Children eagerly climbed onto their parents tall shoulders, tweens stood on their tippy-toes with poster in hand, and couples slow-danced in the back of the crowd as golden lights lit up with venue. The performance of this song was truly breathtaking. Fans passionately reached out their hands as they belted lyrics like, “I don’t need no light to see you shine” // “It’s your golden hour” // “You slow down time” // “In your golden hour.”
JVKE ended the night at Rooftop at Pier 17 with an incredible encore and promised to return for another show. He has two more scheduled dates for this run of tour, one in Philadelphia and another in Boston.
Well, summer has come and it has gone. The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are getting cooler, but rest assured, the music scene in Syracuse is only beginning to heat up. Here are five can’t-miss shows in Syracuse in September.
Buffalo native Chelsea O’Donnell takes the stage at Funk ’n Waffles under her touring moniker Stress Dolls on Saturday, September 2. The alt/pop/rock artist has drawn comparisons to artists such as Lzzy Hale, Courtney Love, Fiona Apple, with one reviewer describing her sound as “Joni Mitchell meets Nirvana.. Avril Lavigne and Foo Fighters in a blender.” O’Donnell has recently released the single “Body,” which is available on all streaming music platforms.
New Jersey hardcore rockers Thursday make their long awaited return to Central New York with a performance at Song & Dance on September 7. The band have close ties to Central New York, having performed at the area’s famous Hellfest music festival in 2001 and 2003. The band are touring in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their album War All the Time. Gel, Pinkshift, and Vinnie Caruana open the show.
Rochester born singer-songwriter Kat Wright returns to Syracuse with a set at the intimate 443 Social Club on September 10. Wright, with her dynamic vocal range powerful stage presence, which she blends between styles of soul and rock ’n roll, has drawn comparisons to performers such as Amy Winehouse and Bonnie Raitt. She boasts an impressive touring resume, proving previous support to acts such as Grace Potter, Kacey Musgrave, and the Wood Brothers, and has also preformed at the Syracuse Jazz Festival, and the Peach Music Festival (Scranton, PA).
Take a short drive down Interstate 81 to Lafayette and you will find the enchanted concert grounds of Wonderland Forest. These picturesque grounds will be the home of jam-rock band Twiddle and their two day music festival, Tumble Down. The line up boasts an impressive undercard, with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Andy Frisco + the U.N., Dopapod, Mihali, The Breakfast, Baked Shrimp, and Mike Powell also performing. Twiddle will perform four sets over the two nights.
Weekend tickets start at $150 with camping and VIP packages available
Celtic punk rockers Dropkick Murphys return to Syracuse for a set at the Oncenter War Memorial on September 30. Known for their high energy live performances, the band have amassed a large and passionate following. They have an impressive 12 studio albums, and are currently touring in support of their 2023 release Okemah Rising. The Interrupters and Jesse Ahern open the show.
Donald Mauskovic, Mano Mauskovic, Marnix Mauskovic, Nico Mauskovic make up the Mauskovic Dance Band. From Amsterdam, they swung through Rochester at the Bug Jar on Tuesday, August 29, part of their late summer US tour. The Mauskovic’s though are, like the Ramones, not really Mauskovic’s and not really related.
Though this mysteriousness only served to enhance their performance. The who’s, the what’s. the how’s, were not important. The only thing that mattered was the rhythm and the groove, and the Mauskovic’s were doling out heaping helpings of both. The energy emerging from the stage was immediate and the audience was converted to a dancing frenzy in no time. The band may not have been related, but they invited the Rochester crowd to their family gathering in the upside down apartment that is the Bug Jar. The party was underway and soon enough everyone was a Mauskovic.
Drums, percussion, synthesizers, and effects and echo laden vocals were stitched together by an ever-present and deliciously grooving bass, sometimes doubled up with a second more melodic bass. African, Jamaican and Brazilian sounds all seeped into the mix, bobbing heads, shuffling feet and moving everything in between. At one point supremely deep bass blasts even moved bodies at the cellular level.
Lyrics, sometimes in English, sometimes not, sometimes improvised, sometimes not, piled more into the mystery. Songs blurred together into never ending strings further dizzying the senses, breaking the crowd down into dancing mounds of putty waiting to be sculpted. When the dust settled though there was no doubt, that was a damn fun time on a Tuesday night in Rochester with the Mauskovic Dance Band.
Riot Fest has announced its 2023 line-up for the three-day festival. Beginning in 2005, Riot Fest has been regarded as one of the best festivals in the nation, featuring music from a wide variety of rock bands. The featured headliners include: Foo Fighters, The Cure, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, and Queens of the Stone Age.
Other notable bands featured are Turnstile, The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle, Tegan and Sara, 100 Gecs, The Gaslight Anthem, Death Grips, AFI, and many more. Riot Fest will span across Friday, Sept. 15, Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17. As in previous years, the festival will take place in Chicago’s Douglass Park.
Originally founded in 2005, Riot Fest is an independent music festival that incorporates the best of punk, rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, metal, alternative, and just about everything in between. It was named #1 Music Festival by USA Today twice, and was voted Best Music Festival through a poll for Chicago Reader in 2021.
Riot Fest is known for its music features and its reunions, such as that of iconic bands like Naked Raygun, the Replacements, The Original Misfits, and Jawbreaker. This year will feature the return of carnival rides, freak shows, panel discussions, and even a wedding chapel. In addition, Logan Arcade, a local venue, will be having free vintage arcade games, hosted by Riot Pop!!, Riot Fest’s own brand of nonalcoholic and alcoholic seltzer.
The festival is easily accessible with Chicago bus and train lines, and is surrounded by diverse neighborhoods with many drink and food locals. Within the festival itself is a variety of food vendors, including vegan and vegetarian options.
Tickets are available on Riot Fest’s website through the Tixr service. Only three-day passes are currently available, though single-day tickets will be available at a later date. The three-day tickets have a mix of options, such as General Admission, VIP Passes, Deluxe Passes, and Deluxe+ Passes.
The summer of throwback shows at Darien Lake continued on August 20, as The Offspring’s Let the Bad Times Roll tour stopped in Western NY. With the tour carrying the name of their 2021 album, and 10th studio cut, Canadian punkers Simple Plan and Sum 41 tag along and create a little nostalgic tour.
After starting out in the mid 80s, I am sure that Dexter Holland only dreamed of the success he has had with The Offspring. 10 studio albums, nearly 1600 concerts, and a number of punk/alternative hits, these guys found their niche and rolled with, and never really cared what the naysayers were naysaying.
With no shortage of energy and fans, Simple Plan took the stage and shredded it for nearly an hour, hitting the stage to the Star Wars theme music. With that kind of entrance, you know you are in for a killer show.
From Montreal, the wrecking crew of Pierre Bouvier (vocals, bass, percussion) Chuck Comeau (drums, percussion), Sebastien Lefebvre (rhythm guitar, vocal, bass), and Jeff Stinco (guitar, backing vocals) were all in sync from the start, pumping the crowd up, running around the stage in classis 90s alternative/punk fashion. From the opening notes of “I’d Do Anything” to the finishing tunes on “Perfect,” Bouvier had fans jumping bouncing around like a mechanical Tigger toy and giving everyone around them the middle finger, or the Simple Plan salute as he stated. He gratefully thanked fans often as he recalled the last time Simple Plan was in town, back in 2005 for a Warped Tour stop and raved about how he loved Darien Lake and the fans (if he only knew about the parking issues).
With a new album out recently, the band played “Iconic” and dedicated to anyone and everyone who has struggled or is struggling with acceptance. Bouvier urged those individuals to proudly extend their hands and offer up the finger and let others know that they will be Iconic.
As the set was coming to an end, and about halfway through “I’m Just a Kid”, Bouvier took a seat at the drums as Comeau took to crowd surfing, in an attempt to high five as many fans in mosh pit as possible.
Setlist: (entered to Star Wars theme), I’d Do Anything, Shut Up!, Jump, Addicted, Welcome to My Life, Iconic (new song), All Star/Sk8er Boi/Mr. Brightside, What’s New Scooby Doo, Where I belong, Im Just a Kid, Perfect
Following up Simple Plan and preceding The Offspring is no easy task, but Sum 41 came out and absolutely crushed any doubts that anyone had. Another solid entrance, this time to AC/DC’s “T.N.T”, Sum 41, with frontman Deryck Whibley racking up the steps on his Fitbit, was just as motivated at their predecessors and continued to amp up the crowd in preparation for the headliner.
Guitar and bass solos by Dave Brownsound, Tom Thacker, and Cone McCaslin were huge part of this set, with Frank Zummo doing his best Animal impression on the drums. These Ajax, Ontario natives came to play and did just that for the next hour for fans of all ages. Near me was a father, probably in his late 40s, having the time of his life with his young child. The kid was dancing and having just as much fun and was all smiles for the entire set of Sum 41, even more so during their cover or Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Memories that are sure to last.
Setlist: T.N.T (entrance music), Motivation, The Hell Song, Over My Head (Better Off Dead), We’re All to Blame, Walking Disaster, We Will Rock You (Queen cover), In Too Deep, Fat Lip, Still Waiting.
With the opening acts done for the night, the packed house in Darien was riding a musically induced high that wasn’t going down anytime soon. With some time to kill, the tour had a blimp floating around the seating area with special camera such as ‘kiss cam’, ‘fuck you’ cam, and of course a “headbanging” cam where fans could pose for the camera doing the assigned task. It was the first time I have seen this at a concert, and the crowd absolutely loved it. The “baby got back” cam and the “fuck you” cam seemed to be the most popular as women were shaking their rear ends to the infamous Sir Mix-a-Lot song and giving double middle fingers as the blimp floated by or camera team was nearby. Definitely a great use of dead time as the stage was prepared for the headliner.
Taking the stage around 9:30pm, Dexter Holland and the rest of The Offspring showed Darien Lake why they have been around nearly 40 years, as they helped bring punk rock into the 90s alternative vibes.
With 10 studio albums to pull from, the setlist could have been arranged in any form and fans would have still left smiling and riding that musical high. Tonight, “Come Out and Play” was the first song. Inspired by gang and school violence in the mid 90s, as well as Holland commuting through East LA for grad school, this and many track on 1994s Smash were about what was happening in front of him. Yet 30 years later, this particular track seems to fit to landscape just the same. Regardless, still a fan favorite as displayed on this night.
As the night went on, Holland was reminiscing just as Sum 41 did about playing Darien Lake on the Warped Tour and marveled at the number of fans that poured into the venue. Bills fan, Sabres fans, and music fans alike. According to his calculations and his people, the attendance at this show, which he called the ‘best thing to happen to rock and roll’, was just under 1.48 million people. This, of course would be a new world record for a concert. I would venture a guess that either he counted wrong, or he had people from the Board of Elections tallying the tickets.
Showcasing guitar skills, Noodles and Todd Morse both were demonstrating new tracks they have learned. With opening chords from classics like Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” and GNR’s “Sweet Child O’Mine”, they both were dueling for bragging rights as Holland went right into his rendition of “Blitzkrieg Pop” from Ramones. This little number, paired with animated show on back drop screen was quite the display of talent from these punk rockers, as the sync was perfectly timed all night.
Let’s talk about that animation screen behind the band. A seizure inducing light show to rival the best, thought provoking animation (think classic 80s music videos, A-Ha, New Radicals artwork), and nonstop beats the entire night. The screen added an element to each set that took you back the first time you heard any of the bands. Truly a memorable show for those hovering around 50, and for those younger fans who are in the punk phase of their musical lives.
Setlist: Come Out and Play, All I Want, Want You Bad (with organ), Let the Bad Times Roll, Staring at the Sun, Original Prankster, Hassan Chop, Hammerhead, Bad Habit, Iron Man/The Trooper/Sweet Child O’ Mine/In the Hall of the Mountain King, Blitzkrieg Pop (Ramones), Gotta Get Away, Gone Away, Why Don’t You Get A Job?, (Can’t Get My) Head Around You, Pretty Fly (for a White Guy), The Kids Aren’t Alright, Encore: You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid, Self Esteem
