On October 19, Buffalo Iron Works celebrated ten years with a performance by Melvin Seals & JGB. As the evening began with a line of anxious fans awaiting to be let into the building, you could feel the energy in the air. The building filled in quickly for what had to be a capacity show.
As the house lights went down, the crowd grew eager waiting to catch the first glimpse of the band. One by one each band members – Melvin Seals, John Kadlecik, Ron Holloway, John-Pual McLean, Peter Lavezzoli – made their way up the side stage stairs and onto the stage under thunderous applause and cheers. When the first note hit the air, the crowd moved in delight with a smile on nearly every face. Each song during the night was masterfully done. Each jam taken to a new level. And every member of the band was right where they needed to be all night long.
The night could not have been any better with the two stellar sets of music brought curtesy of Melvin Seals & JGB. This was not their first time playing Buffalo Iron Works, and definitely should not be their last. As many in attendance would agree.
Melvin Seals and JGB – Buffalo Iron Works – Thursday, October 19, 2023
Setlist: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), Love in the Afternoon, Forever Young, Loose Lucy, Franklin’s Tower, Cassidy, Rubin and Cherise, Can’t Find My Way Home
Dopapod’s winter/spring tour for 2024 kicks off in the Southeast this coming January, but by March the group will be hitting New York for a trio of shows in Buffalo, Syracuse and Saratoga Springs.
After a dozen shows in the Southeast, including five consecutive nights in Florida, Dopapod will have another 10 shows at yet to be announced venues and locales. By mid-March, the four-piece – keyboardist/vocalist Eli Winderman, guitarist/vocalist Rob Compa, bassist Chuck Jones and drummer Neal “Fro” Evans – will be back in the Northeast, ready to hit some familiar haunts.
photo by Filip Zalewski
On Tuesday, March 19, the palindromic band performs at Buffalo Iron Works, then after a day off Dopapod will be at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Friday, March 22 finds the quartet back at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, where the group has performed to packed rooms, most notably on October 20, 2021 when they spent the entire first set performing Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” in its entirety. Check out our recap, photos and videos from the show here.
Frogs and freaks flew into the Palace Theatre in Albany on Friday, October 20, heralding the return of Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade. The first tour for the group in 20 years began earlier in the year, winding its way into the Northeast for a run of late-October shows.
With draped banners of stars and stripes giving a nod to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, the stage took on a blue dystopian hue, as the six piece band – Skerik (saxophone), Mike Dillon (percussion, vibraphone), Sean Lennon (guitar), Harry Waters (keyboards), Paulo Baldi (drums) and Claypool (bass) – arrived on stage to “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore), Claypool bringing up the rear. With Les dressed in all black and a bowler hat, a slow bass led intro to “Cosmic Highway” took the audience on a psychedelic ride, right into “Up on the Roof.”
Following Les offering praise to Skerik, Skerik spoke in French briefly before telling an Albany/All bunny/All moose joke that earned groans and chuckles from the audience.
A cover of The Beat’s “Mirror in the Bathroom” was an early highlight, taking the narcissistic 1980 song out for an extended spin. “David Makalaster,” the Purple Onion track, followed, with Claypool Lennon Delirium composition “Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon” closing a ‘short but didn’t feel short’ 60-minute set.
With Harry Waters – son of Roger – helming the keys, set 2 began with a full rendition of Pink Floyd’s Animals, the five song suite never missed a mark, Claypool donning a pig mask while switching to stand up bass.
A pair of songs from Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel – “Precipitation” and “Calling Kyle” would follow, with “D’s Diner” closing the second set with audience callbacks, whispered lyrics, and xylophone throughout.
King Crimson’s “Thela Hun Ginjeet,” a song that Claypool and his Frog Brigade kicked off the main stage at the first Bonnaroo (and the incredible DVD as well) would drive the energy of the audience to 11, peppering in “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” teases. As the band left the stage, walk out music of “Pure Imagination” played, calling back to Claypool’s memorable Primus and the Chocolate Factory tour.
A can’t miss tour, the Frog Brigade will be at The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ on October 24 before heading to Hulaween and ending the tour at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Halloween.
Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade – Palace Theatre, Albany – Friday, October 20, 2023
Set 1: When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Cosmic Highway, Up on the Roof, Mirror in the Bathroom, David Makalaster, Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon
Set 2: Pigs on the Wing, Part 1, Dogs, Pigs (Three Different Ones), Sheep, Pigs on the Wing, Part 2, Precipitation, Calling Kyle, One Step Beyond, Buzzards of Green Hill, D’s Diner
Deliriant Modifier, a new collaborative album by Sally Gates (Titan to Tachyons), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle) and Greg Fox releases on October 20. The record is inspired by a neuroscience thesis by Anil Seth, and explores ideas of limitation, perception, and improvisation in the musical realm.
Sally Gates references neuroscientist Anil Seth’s thesis, saying: “Perception = controlled hallucinations. Hallucinations = uncontrolled perception”. The group took this as inspiration, using controlled perception as a grounding idea in the creation of their record. Deliriant Modifier is entirely improvised, with the exception certain parameters, cues, and duration times set in place for each track.
Improvising is the result of a natural outpouring of everything you absorb. Whatever you’ve been listening to, practicing, or even reading, watching.
Sally Gates
The first track, “Macro/Micro,” is an eclectic exploration of percussion, strings, and guitar, forming a captivating opening to the record. The improvisation begins sporadically, and as the track continues, the musicians find clarity and cohesion.
The sixth track on the record, “Limits Of A Circle,” begins with a striking, wavering percussive introduction. A strong, gritty guitar interrupts it with thrilling riffs and solos, but the track truly shows the group’s skill in creative percussion.
“Excise Spurious Time,” the closing song, introduces a clear, nervous piano, responding to itself with higher and lower harmonies. The piano exudes nimbleness, as the musicians form what could be soundtracked against a harrowing film.
Using limitations as a framework for improvisation is one way to set goals, think about form, and harness the freedom. Anarchy is ok some of the time, but it’s also nice, for the listener and the performer as well, to keep things from going off the rails all the time.
Trevor Dunn
The three New York-based musicians began the composition of Deliriant Modifier by asking the question, “Do limitations aid or hinder the functionality in composition?” Answered by the unique composure and creative responses to the improvisational prompts, it aids their originality and bold appeal.
Deliriant Modifier released on October 20 on Riverworm Records. The artists are Sally Gates, Trevor Dunn and Greg Fox.
In April of 1994 Phish appeared at the Alumni Arena on SUNY Buffalo’s campus. Trey fell through a hole in the stage during soundcheck which would hobble him for the remainder of that spring tour. It’s possible the band held that incident against the entire city of Buffalo. They didn’t return until two and half years later, and that show, on October 19, 1996, would be their last ever visit to the Western NY metropolis. That was 27 years ago.
Fall 96 Postcard via PhanArt.net
Fall 96 Postcard via PhanArt.net
It was a show I had the pleasure of attending. A junior at Syracuse, I had netted just one show that summer, and was determined to take advantage of the Mid-Atlantic start to the tour that would wind them down the coast to Atlanta for the famous “Remain in Light” Halloween show. Tucked between Wednesday night shows in Lake Placid and Hartford, CT, which in retrospect I am not sure how I pulled off either, let alone both, was an easy rust-belt Friday-Saturday run from Pittsburgh up to Buffalo. So out we headed.
The band was a bit uneven at this point, early in the tour, and in 1996 in general. Lake Placid was nothing special, Pittsburgh was solid and this Buffalo show, was generally forgettable. And forgettable is a pretty apt word from my personal standpoint, I really don’t have a lot of strong memories from that night, couldn’t even tell you a single song they played offhand. And popping the show in for another listen, I can’t really recommend anyone put this in their queue. The playing is fine, the song selection is fine, but there’s just nothing really notable here to be worth anyone’s time.
I have but one strong memory from this show.
In those days, I was stubbornly determined to be in the front row. I literally had nothing better to do with my time. If it meant sitting out in the baking sun all day and then sprinting like my life depended on it, I did it. If it meant waiting out in the bitter cold singing “Tweezer” with some newfound friends, I did it. If it meant weaseling my way down to the floor and sneaking my way past multiple levels of security, I did it. The latter worked like a charm the previous night in Pittsburgh, a far superior show which I enjoyed front and center.
Fall 96 shirt via PhanArt.net
Fall 96 Phish via PhanArt.net
At Buffalo, I again snuck onto the floor and was biding my time chatting it up with some friends who were right on the wall of the 100 level. We were talking about the Pittsburgh show and I mentioned where I sat. They asked where I was sitting that night, and I coyly mentioned I would be in the front row again. They didn’t think I could do it, so now I definitely had to come through. Shortly before the lights went down I walked down the aisle right to the front row and there was an empty seat just waiting there for me, right in front of Trey. Easy peasy!
Fall 96 shirt via PhanArt.net
Some blurry footage of most of the entire show on YouTube can be found below. I watched it all. Like I said, I can’t recommend it for the music. Even for a nostalgic look back at the band and how the lights were back in “the day” is ruined by excessive zoom and blurrier than blurry footage. As I sat through the whole thing trying to figure out what I could possibly say about this show, it took until the end of the very last song for it to dawn on me. The video finally panned out to show the full stage, lights and crowd during the peak of “Run Like an Antelope.”
There is a blurry visage of a young guy in the front row bouncing up and down and throwing his fists wildly into the air as the band goes into manic climax mode. That would be me. Two plus hours of feeling somewhat down on the memory of a ho-hum concert was erased instantaneously. There’s just something about seeing a 27-year younger version of yourself, no matter how blurry, finding ultimate bliss for a few minutes. Guess the show wasn’t all that bad, that guy seemed to be enjoying it.
Phish – Marine Midland Arena, Buffalo, NY – Saturday, October 19, 1996
Soundcheck: Funky Bitch, Reggae Jam, Life On Mars?, Billy Breathes
Set 1: My Friend, My Friend, Rift, Free, Esther > Llama, Gumbo, Down with Disease > Prince Caspian > Frankenstein
Set 2: AC/DC Bag, Sparkle > Slave to the Traffic Light, Bouncing Around the Room, Split Open and Melt, Fluffhead, Swept Away > Steep > Run Like an Antelope, Hello My Baby
Encore: Fee[1], Rocky Top
[1] Trey sang verses through megaphone. The second set started with a Wish You Were Here tease.
Albany by way of Altamont prog-rockers Timbre Coup released a new single, “Firestorm,” on September 21, coming two years after the release of Sudden Urge.
Timbre Coup – Andrew Chamberlaine (guitar), Ben Pickering (bass), Dan Gerken (guitar/vocals), Matt Pickering (drums) – grew from the Capital District music scene in 2007, moving on to play hundred of shows alongside bands including The New Deal, Dopapod, Papadosio, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Consider the Source, in additional performing at Camp Bisco, Catskill Chill, moe.down, The Big Up, Mountain Jam, Wormtown and Strangecreek, among others.
Following a hiatus from 2014-18, which saw the band perforing in projects including Mister F and Lord Electro, Timbre Coup began playing and preparing for live shows again, making their triumphant return to a near sold out crowd on March 2, 2019 at The Hollow. Check out the live album from their return show on Bandcamp.
In 2020 the band would go on to record and later release in 2021 their fourth original album, Sudden Urge, a collection of previously unrecorded songs, both old and new.
Timbre Coup performing at Lark Hall – photo by Zak Radick
Singer and lyricist Dan Gerken shares this on the new track:
Firestorm was written in summer/fall of 2022 and consists of a guitar harmony driven theme throughout. The harmonies range from beautiful mixolydian keys to a more minor approach as the song wears on, telling a weaving story of heartache many people can relate to. The lyrics are meant to uplift. The song is a reminder to not be so dependent on a lover or a partner, but each has to stand alone in greatness to magnify the results of the partnership.
“Firestorm” is the latest from Timbre Coup and is part of a new recording and writing goal for the band as they embark on their fifth studio album this coming winter and spring. The band records at Gerken’s studio just outside of Albany, giving the group a great deal of freedom and flexibility in the recording and writing process. With raw ideas aplenty, the band looks to the structure and writing styles for each song as they press ahead.
We have another completed song we are going to finish and release hopefully by the end of the year, and then we get to really start grinding on some new and old ideas in the practice space and the studio to get the desired amount of material for a release.
Dan Gerken, guitar/vocals, Timbre Coup
Timbre Coup brings a little something for everyone in the live setting as well, giving the group room to improvise upon their dynamic compositions, sing both melodic and haunting vocals, all with slick chops from all members, entertaining any crowd with fervor.
There was a place where the water didn’t flow There was a place All that matters is what you hold In spite of it all it’s a hopeless mess for some there was a place I’d like to run
I saw that she left me for dead and I was freaking out I knew I should’ve left her instead But now I’m bleeding out
Description for some Definition for all I don’t want to see you dropping the ball So carry that weight a burden reaffirmed and begin to use all that you’ve learned
“Firestorm” from Timbre Coup was released on all platforms in Septmeber 2023.
Disco Biscuits have a long history of music festivals in New York State, their own Camp Bisco, as well as numerous performances at festivals of all sizes around the state. For the first time since 2013, a new, intentionally more intimate festival, BISCOLand, was conceived and held in Lafayette at Wonderland Forest over October 6-7.
photo by Tara Gracer
Joining Disco Biscuits were a pair of bands that appeared on earlier Camp Bisco lineups – Lotus and Emancipator, and newcomers to the Bisco fold – Opiou, The Floozies, Eggy and Space Bacon. With classic Camp Bisco lineups featuring up and coming artists as well as staples of the EDM/jamtronica community, the vibe of a stripped down but still well dressed music festival, perfect for an autumn weekend in Central New York.
As for the Disco Biscuits, the jamtronica pioneers took the opportunity to break new ground with some unique musical pairings over the weekend. Biscuits fan Shimmy noted this was the first time the band segued “Confrontation” into “Orch Theme” and followed that up with “And The Ladies Were the Rest of the Night,” the other being December 29, 2014.
Even more notably, the band took the encore on Saturday, October 7 to perform the first ever inverted “Kitchen Mitts,” playing the ending of song first, then the first part. Add to that this inverted “Mitts” appeared inside of a fitting encore appearance of “Home Again” made for an apt coda on the weekend.
Disco Biscuits – BISCOLAND at Wonderland Forest – LaFayette, New York – October 6, 2023
Set 1: Wet, Munchkin Invasion > The Wormhole > Space Train > Cyclone > Nughuffer1 Set 2: Nughuffer 1 > Shocked > To Be Continued > Reactor 2 > M1 > To Be Continued
1 dyslexic 2 inverted
Disco Biscuits – BISCOLAND at Wonderland Forest – LaFayette, New York – October 7, 2023
Set 1: Jam 1 > Bombs > The Deal > Voices Insane 2 > I-Man Set 2: Mindless Dribble 3 > Confrontation 4 > Orch Theme 5 > And the Ladies Were the Rest of the Night 4 > Spacebirdmatingcall Encore: Home Again > Kitchen Mitts 6 7 4 > Home Again
1 w/ ‘Could U Be Loved’ (Bob Marley) teases 2 unfinished 3 w/ Wormhole quotes 4 inverted 5 w/ Crickets tease 6 LTP 2/4/2023 (53 shows) 7 first time inverted
Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes is hitting the road for three intimate solo shows in April, ahead of Gov’t Mule’s full spring tour, celebrating 30 years. Warren Haynes will playLove Rocks NYC at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan on March 10.
Gov’t Mule performs for a sold-out crowd at the Salvage Station in Asheville, North Carolina on June 3, 2022. Photo by David Simchock
Love Rocks NYC is an annual charity event benefitting God’s Love We Deliver, a secular non-profit that prepares and delivers meals to sick New York City residents. The event takes place at The Beacon Theatre on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and this year will feature performers including Mavis Staples, Hozier, Melissa Etheridge, Allison Russell, Larkin Poe, Tyler Bryant, David Shaw, and more. This year will mark Warren Haynes’ fourth appearance at the charity event on March 10.
After the past 2 years, I’m excited, like everyone else, to get back to doing what I love. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to do a handful of intimate, solo shows before the Mule gets rolling.
Warren Haynes
Haynes will also make stops in South Deerfield, MA, and Ridgefield, CT along his solo run. In addition to Love Rocks NYC, Haynes will join his band Gov’t Mule at the Beacon Theatre on December 30 and 31. The group will tour in support of their most recent album, Heavy Load Blues, released in November 2021 to chart-topping success.
Pre-sale tickets for Love Rocks NYC go on sale Thursday, February 17th with the public on-sale starting Friday, February 18th at 10am ET. More information available here.
Tickets for the South Deerfield dates go on sale Tuesday, February 15th, at 6pm ET. Tickets for the Ridgefield show go on sale Wednesday, February 16th at 10am ET. For more details or to purchase, visit www.warrenhaynes.net.
For information on Gov’t Mule’s upcoming Spring 2024 tour, visit mule.net.
Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg will host a special memorial concert on Monday, Nov. 6 to honor the life and music of late saxophonist James Casey who passed away in August at age 40, following a two-year battle with colon cancer.
Born in metro Washington, D.C. and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Casey grew up in a musical family. His passion for music led him to pursue a degree in music business at Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, Casey made lifelong bonds of friendship with fellow students and musicians such as Igmar Thomas, Louis Cato and Eric Krasno, performing at Wally’s jazz club before he made the jump to become a full-time musician in New York City. A serendipitous 2012 sit-in with Krasno’s band Soulive at Brooklyn Bowl introduced Casey to trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick, who became the catalyst for him to join the notable Trey Anastasio Band horn section, comprised of Casey, Hartswick and Natalie Cressman. He became an in-demand session player and toured the world many times over with many different artists. When not on the road, Casey dedicated time in the studio as a producer and performed with his own band, Animus Rexx.
Casey was an accomplished saxophonist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, musical director, solo artist and colorectal cancer awareness advocate. A longtime member of Trey Anastasio Band and regular guest with Grateful Dead ensembles Billy and the Kids and Phil Lesh and Friends, his influence and collaborations extended across many genres and musical circles.
Recording credits included J.Cole, Jesse McCartney, Chromeo, Talib Kweli, Lettuce, Phish, Danger Mouse and Michael Kiwanuka. Casey was a featured vocalist and bandmember on Meghan Trainor’s 2016 Untouchable Tour, directed Shawn Mendes’ late night TV musical debut on the Late Show with David Letterman, performed with the Jonas Brothers and Busta Rhymes, and guested with Dave Matthews Band, Soulive along with many others.
Following a 2021 performance at Red Rocks with Bill Kreutzmann, he was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer at just 38 years old – well under the recommended age of 45 for first-time colonoscopy screenings. After surgery and rigorous chemotherapy, Casey stayed devoted to his music and continued to perform. Furthermore, he went public with his cancer diagnosis in the hopes of bringing awareness to a disease that is increasingly affecting young people at alarming rates.
Unfortunately, Black Americans are 30% more likely to develop young-onset colorectal cancer, and one in four is diagnosed in the later stages. In addition, the Black community has the second-highest mortality and incidence rates in the U.S., and is 35% more likely to die from the disease. Casey appeared on the Today Show in March 2023 to share his story and discuss the importance of knowing your family history and getting tested early.
As Casey’s cancer progressed, he was inspired to finally record and release music under his own name. In November 2022, he announced his first solo work, a holiday EP titled A Little Something For Everyone, which garnered praise among NPR staff picks for the Best Songs of 2022 and raised thousands of dollars for the cancer community. Come March 2023, he dropped New Bloom, his standout single as a solo artist on his forthcoming album, The Kaua’i Project. In the months that followed, and with nothing promised for the future, Casey dripped out two more singles, “E.J.B.M.” and “Outside,” as he was able.
Following Casey’s passing on August 28, 2023, musicians and friends shared words of reverence for Casey’s elegant play, kind personality and enduring spirit. He was also honored by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance with the creation of the James Casey Memorial Fund to raise money and awareness for colon cancer prevention.
James Casey passed away in the early morning surrounded by his wife and family. Following his passing, musicians and friends shared words of reverence for Casey’s elegent play, kind personality, and enduring spirit. He was also honored by the Colectoral Cancer Alliance with the creation of the James Casey Memorial Fund to raise money and awareness for colon cancer prevention.
To honor his life, rather than a traditional memorial service, he wanted his loved ones to throw a party– a celebration of life.
The public concert will feature musical performances curated by Louis Cato, with Radar Ellis spinning some of Casey’s favorite songs throughout the night. Casey had a unique ability to bridge a wide range of musical worlds and artists, and they’ll all be represented onstage.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 13, with proceeds benefitting the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA) and Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH) – two organizations dear to his fight against colon cancer.
Long Island prog/jam rock trio Baked Shrimp are building quite a name in the jamband scene, not only for their musical talent, but for their annual Halloween tradition, now in its 6th year. The Halloween Extravaganza & Costume Contest, to be held at The Hollow on Friday, October 27, this year marks the second straight Halloween at The Hollow, with support from Albany’s own Timbre Coup.
Presented by Guthrie Bell Productions, Baked Shrimp’s Halloween Extravaganzas always include a surprise theme and band costume, audience costume contest, and an above and beyond production.
Baked Shrimp is a high-octane progressive fusion trio, emerging as a rising powerhouse in the festival circuit. Hailing from Long Island, Jared Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Reill (Bass/Vocals), and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals) showcase their energetic and improvisational talents, transforming their three-piece sound into a symphonic experience.
As per tradition, Baked Shrimp goes above and beyond for Halloween, calling on Spinal Tap for the 2022 theme, which included pre-recorded movie skits shown on the screen behind the band, setting up the next song, dropping flowers off the balcony, making a “Stonehenge” prop plus dancers on select tunes.
The audience gets involved in the fun too – every year with the audience costume contest, the band and audience vote for winners (prizes include posters and merch), as well as one lucky winner who gets to join the band members on stage.
Check out last year’s Halloween Extravaganza below:
With another big show planned for this year, the theme, as tradition, does not get revealed until the show.
Opening the night will be Timbre Coup, who formed in 2007 just outside Albany in the town of Altamont. After many years and hundreds of shows alongside bands like The New Deal, Dopapod, Papadosio, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Consider the Source among others along with festival appearances at such events as Camp Bisco X 2, Moedown and Mountain Jam, Timbre Coup brings a little something for everyone. With dynamic compositions, melodic and haunting vocals as well as slick chops this quartet entertains with a fervor.
After a brief hiatus between 2014-2018 the band sought other projects including jam projects Mister F and Lord Electro among others. This time away allowed more time for family and time to keep up with life. In 2018 Timbre Coup began playing and preparing for live shows again, and on March 2, 2019 the band made its triumphant return in front of a near sold out crowd at The Hollow. Listen to their newest single, “Firestorm,” below.
To prepare yourself for what Baked Shrimp have in store for this year, take a look and listen to the past Halloween themes from Baked Shrimp, and get ready for a truly unique evening of live music, great for jam and prog fans alike.
All photos by Miles Hurley
2022 – Spinal Tap – The Hollow, Albany
2021 – NRBQ – Greenlawn
2020 – Baseball – Cooperstown
2019 – Wizard of Oz – New Paltz
2018 – Scooby Doo/Trick-or-Treat – Valley Stream
The Hollow show is just one of the dates on Baked Shrimp’s recently announced 25-date Fall Tour which kicked off on Friday, October 6th. Other New York shows included on this tour are: 10/6 – Beaus Bar – Greenlawn, NY 11/1 – Lovin’ Cup – Rochester, NY 11/2 – Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY w/ eberwine
