Trancefusion pioneers the Disco Biscuits will embark on a lengthy winter/spring tour to start 2024, with shows at Empire Live in Albany and Town Ballroom in Buffalo, named the “Why We Dance Tour.”
photo by Brian Ferguson
With an impressive touring schedule in 2023 – more than 70 shows, with three more lined up for late December – and the return of a Disco Biscuits festival, BISCOLAND, the band is not slowing down in the coming new year.
The “Why We Dance Tour” includes 13 previously announced dates, and adds 20 more shows, with a few more still to be announced.
photo by Conor McMahon
Bassist Marc Brownstein shares the excitement for the band looking ahead to 2024:
We are so excited for these late winter and spring dates! 2024 starts off with a bang and is filled with amazing venues, some of which are new to us like Stage AE, College Street, and the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, while some are old faves like the Kirby, the HOBs in Boston and New Orleans, and ultimately the Tabernacle. We are looking forward to heating up the country from west to east this winter and spring!
Marc Brownstein
The Disco Biscuits last performed in Buffalo and Albany in January and February 2023, respectively.
VIP Packages will be available for all Why We Dance Tour dates as part of this week’s pre-sale and on-sale, and will include early entry to each venue and early access to merch, pre-show soundcheck, group photo with the band, limited edition show poster, and a commemorative laminate & lanyard.
Disco Biscuits “Why We Dance” 2023-2024 Tour Dates
12/28 – New York, NY – Palladium Times Square (Late Show) 12/30 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall ! 12/31 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall 1/25 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Ballroom 1/26 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Ballroom 1/27 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore 1/28 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst 2/1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre 2/2 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park 2/3 – Tucson, AZ – Gem & Jam Festival 2/5 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up 2/6 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up 2/7 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up 2/9 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater * 2/10 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater * 2/11 – TBA 3/7 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore 3/8 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore 3/9 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE 3/10 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater 3/13 – Albany, NY – Empire Live 3/14 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall 3/15 – Portland, ME – State Theatre 3/16 – Boston, MA – House of Blues 3/28 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center 3/29 – TBA 3/30 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 3/31 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 4/2 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom 4/4 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 4/5 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater 4/6 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom 4/7 – Burnet, TX – Texas Eclipse Festival 4/11 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel 4/12 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl 4/13 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle 4/14 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre 6/20-23 – Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest Festival
The interactive wonderland known as Electric Forest has just announced the initial music lineup for its 2024 festival season. The renowned festival experience is taking place June 20-23 in Rothbury, Michigan.
The magic of Electric Forest can not nearly be as well described as the experience provides. It’s an immersive journey that goes beyond standard the music festival experience. This four-day event provides safe spaces full of community, creation, and inclusion. Electric Forest is known to always provide, and that it did with this 2024 lineup. Fans of all styles of electronic music and beyond will find a little bit of everything as Forest is no stranger to having an array of genres.
Photo Credit, Maddie McCafferty
Returning and New Artists Coming To Electric Forest
The headliners for next year includes Forest legend Pretty Lights, the dubstep king himself, Excision, and Clyclops Recordings founder Subtronics. This summer will also have numerous collaborative artist sets such as EVERYTHING ALWAYS (Dom Dolla and John Summit), PSYREN (CloZee and LSDREAM), and Gigantic NGHTMRE (Big Gigantic and NGHTMRE).
Subtronics, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Jam band lovers will be happy with The String Cheese Incident’s return with two sets. As well as performances by The Disco Biscuits, Umphrey’s McGee, and Lettuce. Some surprising artists joining this year include Grammy-winning singer Nelly Furtado and hip-hop artist Ludacris.
The Disco Biscuits, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The list of headliners continues with Belgian techno queen Charlotte de Witte, and performances by Black Tiger Sex Machine, Ben Boomer, and Knock2. House and techno lovers will be ecstatic with their stacked selection of Mac P, LP Giobbi, TSHA, and more.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
This 2024 lineup has a variety of everything for everyone and more artists will continue to be announced leading up to the festival. Since 2011, Electric Forest has committed to the imagination of what a festival experience can be and this upcoming year is no exception. Passes for Electric Forest 2024 will go on sale December 8 at 12pm ET through their official website.
The Waterhole Music Lounge has announced the live music lineup for their most renowned concert series, Winter Carnival at the Waterhole.
Over the course of 10 days, The Waterhole will bring 13 live musical acts to the Upstairs Music Lounge to keep Carnival goers moving & grooving as our community celebrates the 127th annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.
The 2024 lineup features 13 different bands including a plethora of fan favorites, and pairs them up with unbelievably talented opening acts that are sure to entertain and excite.
Things kick off on Friday, February 2 with Annie in the Water, well known for excitable, high energy jams, funky tones, and chill vibes. Special guests Organ FairChild from Buffalo, NY will open up the evening. This old-school organ trio has dance-heavy grooves and adventurous jamming.
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression make their first Winter Carnival appearance on Saturday, February 3. This groove-hardy trip of soul music filtered through a vivacious, and sometimes lush, modern lens, a psychedelic soundscape that exemplifies truth in music’s ability to shake up the establishment. This band will make the journey to the North from their hometown in Lexington, Kentucky, a follow up appearance at The Waterhole after the crowd fell in love with their sound at a Party on the Patio performance in 2023.
Los Blancos are the perfect compliment to the Saturday night bill. This band has been playing the Waterhole since the creation of the Upstairs Music Lounge in 1991. They rip through blues, soul, zydeco, and with their bottomless bag of tricks they always get the party started.
Wednesday, February 7 Hayley Jane returns to the Waterhole with her new band. Known for her emotive and memorizing performances, her vocals have a delicacy that touches the heart and also a raw power that can drive one into a frenzy. Open and honest, she chooses words that are both brazen and playful as she spills secrets onto the stage, spinning them into a web of burred lines.
Giovanina Bucci, who was born and raised in Plattsburgh and a dear friend of Hayley Jane will open up the night. Her musical style is nothing short of eclectic. Rooted in blues, soul, and folk, she writes about the intimate experiences that have shaped her as a human and as a songstress showcasing her unique guitar style and sultry delivery.
Thursday, February 8 features The Strictly Hip: Masters of The Tragically Hip. The band takes an almost academic approach to performing the music of Canada’s most popular band, performing with reverence, respect and accuracy.
Friday, February 9 Bellas Bartok & Folkfaces partner up for an energetic and bedazzling co-bill that is sure to keep concert goers dancing the night away. Bella’s Bartok live shows are a theatrical mix of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and the ‘Rocky Horror Picture’ show with a mesmerizing mix of Eastern European, Americana, punk and pop music. Folkfaces are a rowdy, roots quartet that takes its influence from weird old American music, offering an energetic variety show and traveling music review. The band explores a wide range of genres including country, blues, traditional jazz, rock & roll, honkey tonk, western swing, bluegrass, old-time, jug band and more.
Saturday, February 10 features two different shows – the first being the Post Parade Party. This day time show takes place immediately after the parade ends, and is well known as the biggest dance party of the entire year, plus its a free show headlined by another fan favorite, The Big Takeover.
Led by the powerhouse, Jamaican-born singer and songwriter NeeNee Rushie, The Big Takeover’s horn-powered global blend reveals deep fluency in reggae and world music, hints of soul and Motown, and their own infectious brand of pop classicism. Saranac Lakers will recognize The Big Takeover from their late night performance at the 2022 Northern Current Community Music Festival.
Later that evening, another show awaits Carnival goers. Fan favorite, West End Blend returns with funk and SOUL. Fronted by vocalist Erica Tracy Sullivan, WEB plays homage to classic throwback sounds while adding their own distinct vibe and flair. Behind her, the blend packs a four-piece horn section, two guitars bass, keyboards, and drums onto stages every night. From humble beginnings in an epic sweaty funky basement dance party, the Blend’s goal has always been to bring that same atmosphere to every show ever since.
Opening up for WEB will be All Night Boogie Band – hailing form the Green Mountains of Vermont, this band closed out the 2023 Party on the Patio 2023 season with a bang, and were thus invited to play during Winter Carnival. Think massive soulful vocals, big horns; and a powerfully tight rhythm section that creates a powerful and emotional blues that will make you shake your hips.
And last but certainly not least, Jatoba returns to the Carnival Lineup on Bloody Mary Sunday, February 11. This free day time show happens in the downstairs bar and will mark the band’s first Waterhole show since 2014. Jatoba sounds like groove-grass with quick bluegrass tempos driven by thumping and rockabilly-like bass lines, accentuated with soaring three part vocal harmonies. On top of this, they add effect-driven guitar solos, heavy rhythmic improvisation, beat boxing and even the occasional sitar interlude.
If you don’t want to miss a single beat of Winter Carnival at The Waterhole, consider purchasing a Week Pass for $76. This pass guarantees access to every ticketed event and saves you $24. Tickets are available for purchase on the Waterhole website saranaclakewaterhole.com and in person by stopping into the bar. As always, the Waterhole is a 21+ venue.
Guitarist extraordinaire Keller Williams drew a sold out crowd at Lark Hall on Saturday, December 2.
The master of looping has been at it for nearly 30 years, and his following has never waned a bit. From sell out shows at The Egg in 2006 to festival performances all throughout the state with unique projects, Keller always draws well in Albany.
Keller Williams at Lark Hall – photo by Dave DeCrescente
A chatty crowd took in the show on this pre-winter evening, a mirror ball providing subtle lighting that paired well with Williams’ sound and style. Even without his right hand man, Louis Gosain, the evening was full of fun, laughs and surprised, as well as a great deal of experimentation, particularly throughout set one, which would end with a fantastic “Naive Melody.”
“Freeker by the Speaker” would open Set 2 to great cheers, a segment of “Pets” by Porno for Pyros found worked into the original tune deftly.
Keller Williams at Lark Hall – photo by Dave DeCrescente
A subtle nod to Phish on their 40th anniversary was found in the form of “The Wedge” > “Stash” which segued cleanly into “Scarlet Begonias” and “Gatecrashers Suck,” one of Williams’ best known tunes for the autobiographical nature of the Grateful Dead’s ill-fated Deer Creek, IN run in 1995.
Whether you prefer Keller playing solo acoustic/looping as he did tonight, or with a unique project like Keller and the Keels, KellerGrass or More Than a Little, his shows are never one to miss when he rolls through. Catch him at Buffalo Iron Works on Saturday, December 9, part of NYS Music’s Jam for Tots series.
Chess Club recently released their debut EP, They Wanted a Demo onNovember 17. The 4 track brain-child of Adam Chase (JAZZ IS PHSH, James Brown Dance Party) and Danny Darress clocks in at just under 15 minutes. The EP notably features both Felix Pastorius (Cindy Blackman, Jeff Coffin, and son of Jaco) and Isaiah Sharkey (John Mayer, D’Angelo).
Chase and Darress, also known by their stage names Champagne and Paris, recorded the entirety of the EP live at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina. They recruited Cory Wong (Vulfpeck, Fearless Flyers) as their mixing engineer for the release. Headed into the studio with an all star line-up ready to record, They Wanted a Demo was born.
Photo courtesy of Chess Club
When Chase and Darress formed the group in 2023, they set out to create something unique, fresh, and different from their previous projects. As the drummer and keyboardist/vocalist respectively, Champagne and Paris utilized their jazz backgrounds and expertise to write four ear-worm pop songs. The EP features lighthearted, sometimes humorous lyrical topics, and an extremely tight rhythm section reminiscent of early R’n’B and Vulfpeck-like minimalist funk.
Photo courtesy of bandcamp
The first and third tracks off the EP, “Your Shirt” and “Stay Fresh” feature Felix Pastorius on bass guitar. “Your Shirt”, a song about getting caught staring at someone’s shirt, is driven by Felix’s bassline and Darress on Wultizer. “Stay Fresh”, which tackles the topic of letting someone you love know they might need a breath mint, is defined by its chill, laid back pocket groove. This track features a solo by Pastorius.
The remaining tracks, “Santa Knows” and “It’s Not Me, It’s You” feature Isaiah Sharkey on guitar. He provides beautiful accompaniment to the duo’s Christmas ballad, and brings the song to new heights during a meticulously built guitar solo. His stylistic techniques during the introduction of “It’s Not Me, It’s You” and phrasing throughout adds an additional layer of depth and flavor. He is the featured soloist on both tracks.
As stated on their Bandcamp, “With an irreverent sense of humor and a knack for infectious hooks, Champagne and Paris have crafted a songbook that will go down in history as one of the best catalogues ever recorded.” They Wanted a Demo is officially available on all streaming services here
2023 was a lot of things, and hopefully one of those things, for you, was music-filled. Happy to be here to help guide you to some of the good stuff in and around Rochester every month. Here are five more shows to help you finish the year off with a bang.
Philadelphia’s Another Michael returns to the Bug Jar after their killer show there last November. They come with their brand new album, Wishes to Fulfill, in tow, ready to delight fans new and old with their hooky songs featuring breezy guitars and dreamy vocals. JODI, Pluck, and Comfy round out this excellent bill.
Tickets are are $12/$15 dos and bands get started around 9pm.
Grammy-winning harmonica wizard Howard Levy, who long ago was an original member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, brings his new four piece to Fanatics. He and his signature diatonic harmonica playing are joined by Chris Siebold on guitar, Josh Ramos on bass and Luiz Ewerling on drums.
Way back in January we recommended Mikaela Davis’ shows at Abilene and Maybird’s show at Bug Jar. Twelve months later and we’re back to recommend a show featuring them both on one bill at the brand new venue Essex. Mikaela Davis and Southern Star have since released a new album and have been touring heavily throughout the year. These two bands go way back too. Davis used to frequently play in Josh Netsky’s bands and Kurt Johnson, now a pedal steel and guitarist in Southern Star was a founding member of Maybird. Will they sit-in with each other? Only time will tell, but either way, this is sure to be a groovy psychedelic night featuring some of the areas brightest talents.
Ember, the Brooklyn-based trio of Caleb Wheeler Curtis, Noah Garabedian, and Vinnie Sperrazza will close out what has been another busy and exciting year of eclectic live music at Bop Shop Records. Creative and band focused, they will push the limits of improvisation for a night of invigorating and heady night at the intimate shop in Brighton.
moe. will jam in the new year once again at the Kodak Center, returning after their blowout run at the same venue to welcome in 2019. The band is finishing out a solid year of touring after being plagued by more unfortunate health issues, with guitarist Chuck Garvey suffering a stroke in November 2021. Rochester is blessed with many excellent live music options to ring in the new year, but this one should top them all.
Tickets are $46-106 with an option to get a 2-night package. Show will start around 8p.
Karina Rykman made her debut appearance in Saratoga Springs with a show at Putnam Place on Thursday, November 30. With a strong crowd in attendance – and some fans making the trek up to Burlington on December 1 and 2 – Rykman’s first show in the Spa City will certainly not be her last.
Opening the night was Coyote Island, a reggae/pop group from Maine, on tour with Rykman this fall.
Throughout her single set, Karina would play a variety of songs from her debut album, Joyride, released this past August. Beginning the show with some of the most familiar tracks on the album, from “Beacon” through “Plants,” each was played with slow building energy and focus from the band, loosening up as the set progressed.
“City Kids” would mark a frenzied shift of the set’s vivacity, with Rykman running around in circles, pumping the already engaged crowd up even more. Guitarist Adam November dropped rapid fire guitar, the kind you’d hear in “The Great Curve,” with just the proper amount of distortion incorporated – never too heavy and present in the right spots. Rykman dropped a few bars of “The National Anthem” by Radiohead, per usual turning ears to the stage when this ear worm of a bass line makes its appearance.
“Run of the Mill” brought with it venue-shaking bass bombs, and slowly seeped into Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper,” which had more energy than the 1996 song. Rykman and drummer Chris Corsico put a grungy feel to the debut of “Canary in a Colemine,” a tinge of Mary J. Blige’s “Family Affair” slipping in amid the final songs of the set.
For an encore, Rykman chose to debut “Song 2” from Blur, a great addition to their setlist arsenal, and a performance that assures her return to the Capital Region in the future.
Setlist: Beacon, Skylark/Slowlark, Joyride > All That You Wanted > Plants > Arbitrary > Dirty South, City Kids, Run of the Mill > Pepper, Reboot, No Occasion > Canary in a Colemine > The Hardest Button to Button, Atom Dance, Elevator Encore: Song 2
Up next for Rykman is a performance at Warren Haynes’ XMas Jam in Asheville, NC on Saturday, December 9, then at Mohegan Sun on December 30. Check out her full tour dates here.
On a day where shoppers flocked to stores and malls in search of holiday deals, music fans made their way to the Middle Ages Beer Hall to see Mike Powell and the Echosound. The Echosound, a jam-rock band from Syracuse is the latest musical incarnation of singer-songwriter Mike Powell.
Opener Neil Minet got things rolling on Friday evening, with a blistering sixty minute set. Minet and his band have been turning heads over the last year in Syracuse, has included a notable performance at the 2023 NYS Blues Fest. The Neil Minet Band blends blues, funk and R&B sounds, resulting in a set that had the entire room swaying and dancing.
As Mike Powell and his bandmates took to the stage, Powell stepped towards the mic and offered a smile and the following words; “Let’s have some fun.” With that, the house lights dimmed and the band was underway. Opening with a cryptic musical jam, guitarist John Hanus was given the opportunity to step in to the spotlight early, and he did not disappoint. Hanus would deliver a guitar solo that was both beautiful and powerful, while backed by the strong musicianship of the remaining members of the Echosound. As the solo ended, Mike Powell quickly launched in to the raucous and upbeat “Submarine Gin.” The set was fully underway and the packed beer hall crowd pushed their way closer to the stage.
It was evident early and often that Mike Powell and the Echosound carried with them a loyal and devoted following, as fans danced, swayed, and sang back Powell’s catchy choruses, with the concert hall filled elbow to elbow with fans. While the band performed many of the dynamic tracks off their recent release Plastic Spoon Honeymoon, they dipped their toes into Mike Powell’s diverse solo catalog as well.
Songs like “Josephine” took on dramatic new life when paired with the talents of the Echosound. The song, which would stretch over nine minutes long, would build to yet another epic solo by Hanus, while bandmates Zak Masoud (bass guitar), Adam Manion (percussion) and Jeff Alderman (keyboards) kept pace, each taking their turn to shine. The song would eventually break down into a brief cover of “Come Together”, fusing both songs into one seamless piece. It was perhaps the standout moment on an evening filled with highlights, and one that will be sure to keep music fans coming back to see the band.
A music and emotion-filled weekend at The Capitol Theatre wrapped up on Sunday, November 26, as Twiddle, a band whose near two-decade tenure as a dominant Northeast jam band, came to a close. Using the annual ‘Frendsgiving‘ celebration to begin their indefinite hiatus, the group’s dedicated final performances (for now) matched the love and affection Twiddle fans poured out over three days and nights in Port Chester.
Frendsgiving has been a Twiddle tradition since at least 2017, a celebration around Thanksgiving that brings the Twiddle faithful together for a two or three night run at The Capitol Theatre. The fans who have made Twiddle a brand that goes well beyond the band are the core of this community, taking the music and lyrics, embracing them and incorporating them into their lives, as well as their artwork and inspired creations.
Celebrated Frend Art events have brought fans together in great numbers, showing the inspiration the band imparts on their fans. On Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26, Coda Davidson once again brought Frend Art together for two shows, full of live music, workshops, live painting, and a chance to meet the artists and creators of these galvanized creators, for the first, or potentially, last time. Events like these are the reason Twiddle was head and shoulders above many of their brethren in the jam scene, creating a scene that was truly organic, mirroring the jams the band bring to the stage each night.
That was something that always stuck out about Twiddle – the band offered a fresh perspective of an organic fanbase and movement, one that was seen over the decades, bringing along comparisons to Phish, given their Vermont roots and tendency to jam off of oddly named songs. But Twiddle was not Phish, nor the ‘next Phish’; if anything, Twiddle was indicative of a generational swing for (primarily) millennials who sought to carve their own niche in the jam scene, being far more than a photostat of the ‘other’ four guys from Vermont. The comparisons between the two bands began and ended with ‘’well, they’re from Vermont and there are four guys in the band” simply because there was no reason for a ‘next Phish,’ which holds true even today with other bands from the Northeast.
One aspect of Twiddle’s legacy that may be overlooked is how effectively the band made sure to uplift bands in the jam scene that were just starting out, giving these artists with small followings a big stage by opening up for Twiddle at various points in the first half of the 2010s. Former Twiddle manager Kevin Rondeau was instrumental in this, seeing the promise of bands like Mister F, Wild Adriatic, and Strange Machines, offering them opening slots or late night at festivals across the Northeast. There were countless bands you could see at Frendly Gathering or Tumbledown who you might be able to see at some point at a club, but this elevation to festival billing or direct support at a show was a game changer for those bands lucky enough to have the opportunity, particularly for those who knew how to use this boost to their long term advantage.
So as Twiddle entered this final stretch of shows, I found myself nostalgic, wondering how many Twiddle shows I had seen since The Big Up 2010 – I ballparked the number to be around 30 but it could be higher still – and what the legacy of the band will be following this final run at The Cap. I recalled attending the band’s first Capitol Theatre show, seeing the joy from Rondeau and keyboardist Ryan Dempsey when they learned the show was officially sold out, a mere three hours before doors. The fans were alive with energy the entire night, knowing they were witness to the start of the band’s next step.
That energy was still seen outside the Capitol Theatre for Frendsgiving, with Twiddle fans lined up for early entry, aiming to ride the rail one final time, or displaying pin boards and their wares for advance arrivals who sought out the abundance of Hispanic food found throughout Port Chester (don’t sleep on El Rinconcito Salvadoreno, right behind the Capitol Theatre). Fans likewise lined up all through the venue to pick up the final run of merchandise, including three incredible prints from Vinny Naro, and even had a wide selection of prints and merch from the Twiddle archives for sale in Garcia’s.
And then there was the music.
The Kitchen Dwellers provided a great opening set, and sit-ins, on Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25, a connection going back over a decade that has seen Kitchen Dwellers making it to the east coast usually twice a year and finding a healthy audience wherever they play.
Friday night of Twiddle began with instrumental “Stroganoff” and “Syncopated Healing,” the latter echoing the phrase/advice “Heal your life,” something not lost on the faithful in attendance and streaming at home on Fans.Live, following with a big jam out of “Daydream Farmer” and inviting up Torrin from Kitchen Dwellers for “Cabbage Face.”
Set two’s “Brick of Barley” welcomed a familiar face in Scott Hannay, AKA ‘stage daddy’. Hannay’s musical journey has included stints with Capital Zen and later with Mister F, as well as his own 8-bit musical creations, and currently serves as keyboardist for Mihali’s band, which has a rosy future paved out for it. “Brick of Barley” also gave drummer Adrian Tramontano a worthy drums segment that made this one of the jams of the weekend. “River Drift” had Mihali coming out to the front of the stage, pouring emotion out of his DGN guitar as he fell to his knees during the peak, fans raising their hands up with requited love. A tease of “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter was found in “Amydst the Myst,” and sunflowers found space on the walls of The Cap during “Hattis Jam” > “When it Rains it Poors,” the latter an anthem for Twiddle if there ever was one.
The encore on Friday would have Twiddle bring up Kitchen Dwellers quickly, none leaving the stage, as they tuned up all nine musicians for “Glycerine Medley,” which had bits of “No Woman No Cry,” “Wagon Wheel” and “Farmhouse,” framing the first night perfectly with post-show music “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Saturday night’s sets would feature songs that encapsulated Twiddle’s storytelling chops, including fan favorites in the first set, “Nicodemus Portulay,” “Fantastic Tale of Ricky Snickle,” “Mamunes the Faun,” “Beethoven & Greene.” Set two saw a cover of ALO’s “BBQ” inside of “White Light” (which gave its name to the band’s official charity) and the Beatles “Rocky Raccoon” with Torrin and Swain from Kitchen Dwellers joining in. Torrin would stick around for “Subconscious Prelude” and the entire band joining Twiddle for a raucous cover of “Burning Down the House” in the encore slot. Ryan Dempsey took the opportunity to crowd surf, with success, during the encore as Hannay took over on key, the stage lit up with smiles and excitement from the bands in this, their final live collaboration.
photo by Phil Hernandez
Sunday night featured three sets, each one piling on the classic Twiddle songs fans clamored to hear, as well as some rarities in the mix. The first set featured two of those bust-outs, “Bronze Fingers” and “Five,” with a set ending “Earth Mama.” Over the next two sets, the biggest jam vehicles took the crowd for a spin one last time – “Latin Tang” had a jam on Vulfpeck’s “Dean Town,” with Mihali ascending to the Stage Left box seats for an incredible solo; “Apples” made way for “Doinkenbonk,” one of the silliest song titles in the Twiddle catalog, but with a groove and jam that make up for it, and Primus’ “Too Many Puppies” sung perfectly by Zdenek Gubb, slapping the bass with precision to close the middle set.
Set 3 began with “Orlando’s,” a song that has given birth to a music venue of the same name in Burlington. “Jamflowman,” a song that became one of the most identifiable Twiddle songs, thanks to the line “Jamflowman don’t give a damn” found “Frankenfoote” to follow, Frankies projected all across the walls of the Capitol Theatre. “Gatsby the Great” was yet another song that lent itself to becoming Twiddle parlance and art (“Luva Duck“) and closed with an always mesmerizing “The Box.”
Before returning for an encore, Capitol Theatre owner and promoter Peter Shapiro came out to thank the fans, give Twiddle due credit for their longevity, and surprised the band with medals for each of them. After hugs and smiles, the band returned to a song played on Friday night, “When It Rains It Poors,” Mihali calling an audible and returning to their most streamed song, and with appropriate lyrics as they hit pause after 20 years:
Now listen to the words I’m Saying in this line that your life will be just fine and Troubles do not stay they Get replaced with good times Now you got a great life Smile as you walk by Thinking about the Day
Fare thee well Twiddle, we’ll meet again someday.
Twiddle “Frendsgiving”- Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – Friday, November 24, 2023
Set 1: Stroganoff, Syncopated Healing, Daydream Farmer, Cabbage Face (1), The Mission, Brown Chicken Brown Cow# Set 2: Collective Pulse, Brick of Barley (2), The Devil, River Drift, Amydst The Myst$, Mushrooms of the Sea> Dr Remidis Melodium, Hattis Jam > When It Rains It Poors Encore: Glycerine Medley (3) (1) – w/ Torrin Daniels (Kitchen Dwellers) (2) – w/ Scott Hannay (3) – w/ Kitchen Dwellers (no stage break before encore) $ – contained Hedwigs Theme
Twiddle “Frendsgiving”- Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – Saturday, November 25, 2023
Set 1: Nicodemus Portulay> Indigo Trigger, Fantastic Tale of Ricky Snickle, Every Soul> Mamunes the Faun> Every Soul, Beethoven & Greene Set 2: White Light> BBQ [1] > White Light, Rocky Raccoon [2], Subconscious Prelude [3], Polluted Beauty [4], Lost in the Cold [4], Slippin in the Kitchen Encore: Burning Down The House [5] [1] – ALO [2] – The Beatles w/Torrin & Swain [3] – w/Torrin Daniels [4] – Mike on Saxophone [5] – Talking Heads superjam w/Torrin, Swain, Joe Funk, Scott Hannay & Mike on Sax
Twiddle “Frendsgiving”- Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – Sunday, November 26, 2023
Set 1: Be There, Moments, Bronze Fingers, Fighting For, Hattibagen McRat, Five, Earth Mama Set 2: Frends Theme, Latin Tang#, Apples > Doinkenbonk > Too Many Puppies* Set 3: Orlando’s, Jamflowman> Frankenfoote > Gatsby the Great, The Box Encore: When It Rains It Pours > Over the Rainbow > When It Rains It Pours > Every Last Leaf II
# with Scott Hannay * “I Will Always Love You” tease
There was already magic in the air when Medeski, Martin and Wood took the stage on December 1, 2000 at The Palace Theatre in Albany. The night was cold but the rumors were hot that some very special guests would be joining MMW that night.
Those rumors turned out to be true. Elysian Fields founder/guitarist Oren Bloedow as well as Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista joined Medeski Martin and Wood for the entire show. Rumors had been swirling like an upstate snow squall that Phish frontman Trey Anastasio would be there and when He joined Medeski, Martin and Wood (plus Bloedow and Baptista) late in the second set, the energy of the crowd and the band reached some amazing heights.
The night began with some ambient improvisation from Medeski, Martin and Wood with special guests Bloedow and Baptista joining from the start. Instrumental grooves set the mood and seemingly took the audience from jungle to the tropics and through various soundscapes before leading in to “The Dropper.” The first pure melodies of the night then followed with “Nostalgia in Times Square.” From “The Dropper” to “Times Square” – the psychedelic journey had begun and the band took the crowd on what sounded like an audio description of a psychedelic experience through New York City.
One can almost see the different store fronts, streets, alleys, cabs, people and hallucinations as MMW and friends wind their way from Times Square through “Angel Race (I’ll Wait For You)” and “Shacklyn Knights”, the latter featuring some vintage psychedelic 60’s style guitar leads from Bloedow. A heavy trance like percussion jam brought a return to “Shacklyn Knights” before closing the first set with a dark and jazzy “Seven Deadlies,” again invoking the chaos of mixing psychedelics and The Big City.
Ticket stub for Medeski Martin and Wood, which featured sit-ins from Trey Anastasio, Oren Bloedow and Cyro Baptista.
Set two began with John Medeski laying down an eerie organ intro before Billy Martin kicked in a big beat on drums for “Big Time”. Chris Wood’s bass fueled the opening jam while MMW was once again joined by Oren Bloedow and Cyro Baptista. The Five-some took the music to deep, dark space before returning to planet Earth via the Jimi Hendrix classic “Third Stone From The Sun” which featured funky grooves and blistering lead guitar from Oren Bloedow and a percussion breakdown. The crowd erupted as Trey Anastasio appeared and it was announced that “another special guest” was going to join the stage. The new ensemble, armed with one of the world’s most talented guitarists kicked off with MMW’s “Partido Alto” with Trey adding his signature guitar style.
When asked about this show, Capital region resident Maria Levin, who was in attendance said, “Trey playing “Partido Alto” with MMW is still one of the highlights of my live music life.” “We Are Rolling,” “Start Stop” and a haunting, Roky Erickson-esque “Dracula” had Trey and company exploring the far reaches of the universe with a sound that seemed to encapsulate some of the best elements of Phish and MMW. Jax Why commented in the Facebook group PHISH TOUR 2014, “A superb evening. The “rumor” was not much of a surprise by the time Big Red (Trey Anastasio) emerged for the second set. However, the style and energy in which He played was. It was quite a different sit-in from when Trey joined MMW in Austin, TX about 4 years prior. Mature jamming and placement with intent and patience.” Following “Dracula,” Chris Wood captivated the Palace Theatre crowd with a bass solo that set the tone for a jazzy, funky and at times scary “Chubb Sub” that closed out the set.
After a standing ovation, Medeski, Martin, Wood, Bloedow, Baptista and Anastasio returned to the stage and sent the fans home into the Albany night with a “Swamp Road” for the ages.
The collaborations at The Palace Theatre in Albany on December 1, 2000 would not only lead to an unforgettable night for those in attendance but also change the course of jamband history. This magical night in Albany was the first time Trey Anastasio and Cyro Baptista joined forces together on stage. Trey would invite Cyro to join The Trey Anastasio Band in 2002. Cyro continues to be a part of TAB to this day.
