The Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College will present its first Cinco De Mayo family celebration “Viva El Cinco De Mayo: Festival Del Son” on Saturday, May 6 at Colden Auditorium. This celebration will feature four world-renowned ensembles on stage presenting traditional Mexican music and dance, including Tlen Huicani, Mariachi Real De Mexico, Ensamble Huasteco, and Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Nueva York, joined by special guest José Adán Pérez.
Viva El Cinco De Mayo: Festival Del Son
Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA) is the largest multi-disciplinary arts complex in Queens, and hosts performances by world-class artists, regional and local talent, and professionally-produced shows by Queens College’s students and faculty. KCA’s mission is to provide high quality, accessible and affordable cultural attractions to the Queens College community and the borough’s 2.3 million residents. Colden Auditorium, the venue host the Cinco De Mayo celebration, is the largest indoor venue space with 2,000 seats within the borough of Queens, conveniently located on the campus of Queens College in Flushing, NY.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the first annual Cinco De Mayo festival this year. Our goal is to create a fun and inclusive event for all ages that celebrates Mexican culture and brings people together through the power of music and dance.”
Jon Yanofsky
Festival Del Son is a family-oriented music and dance festival that features the three most important “Son” musical styles from Mexico. In this Cinco de Mayo celebration, Ensamble Huasteco will bring traditional Son Huasteco, Mariachi Real De Mexico will share the traditional Son Jaliscience, and Tlen Huicani will feature the traditional Son Jarocho. Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Nueva York will dance with all three groups to share both the beauty of dances and dresses from each region.
This event is presented in partnership with Consulate General of Mexican in New York and Mexican Cultural Institute of New York. “Queens College and the Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA) have been instrumental in fostering cultural exchange and understanding. This Cinco de Mayo celebration exemplifies the power of collaboration and the beauty of our shared heritage. It is honored to bring Mexico’s vibrant traditions to life, creating a memorable and enriching experience for families in New York.
Tickets for the Cinco De Mayo celebration are on sale now and can be purchased online or at the box office.
On Friday April 21st, The Stanley Theater in Utica hosted a memorable musical showdown of two of the most popular rock bands in rock history, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Performing the Beatles songs were Abbey Road and The Rolling Stones tribute Satisfaction. Both bands used three costume changes each presenting eras of rock and roll history.
The debate of who stands the greatest began with alternating mini sets of two tribute bands engaging in an on stage mashup duel.
The Beatles are widely characterized as classical traditional pop and rock n roll, the English rock band formed in the 1960’s. Ever since, have been regarded as one of the most influential bands of all time, achieving international and commercial success.
Abbey Road has become one of the most satisfying Beatles tribute acts to this day. Covering all eras including the authentic black suits from the early 60s, Sgt. Peppers regalia and the honorary Abbey Road attire. Recreating and honoring the harmony, charm and wit of the English rock band where they perform the full Beatles experience.
On the other hand, The Rolling Stones were driven by blues, rock, pop and truly defined hard rock n roll culture. Becoming a huge part of youth culture in the 1960’s with their rebellious punk that largely influenced society and revolutionized the music industry.
Satisfaction has become an international tribute show to honor a world known rock band entering their 20th year in production. The cast brings an authentic performance of classical hits from over 50 years of Rolling Stones history.
Both bands hold the name and legacy that defines true rock and roll. The debate and battle between the two persists for over 50 years. Going face to face truly highlighted the band’s history and rivalry.
Abbey Road and Satisfaction put on an outstanding show that left the crowd with a standing ovation. Show comers sang along to every song, while the cast members interacted with the crowd shouting, “Put your hands up!”. It was truly an unforgettable experience to bring the 60’s back to business, to celebrate and honor the legacy of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) will hold a special film screening, Q&A, and charity food drive event on May 6, featuring the documentary film Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something, which celebrates the extraordinary life and activism of LIMEHOF inductee singer songwriter Harry Chapin, from Huntington Bay.
Harry Chapin was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a Grammy Award-winning artist and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end world hunger. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977.
In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work. That medal is on display along with other Harry Chapin artifacts at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Chapin, who was inducted into LIMEHOF in 2006, is an excellent example as someone who was involved with a wide range of charity organizations including co-founding WhyHunger in 1975 and Chapin also founded Long Island Cares in 1980. Today the organization is headquartered in Hauppauge, NY with food pantry locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties including Freeport, Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, and Hampton Bays.
Told through archival footages and new interviews, When In Doubt, Do Something explores key moments in Chapin’s life, including performing with his brothers and working on the Academy Award-nominated documentary Legendary Champions, to his solo success with hits like “Taxi,” “W.O.L.D.” and “Cat’s In The Cradle” and his tireless philanthropic work, which included his efforts with WhyHunger and a seemingly endless run of benefit performances, all of which led to him being posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
This documentary paints a new picture of the singer-songwriter who used his fame as a launching point to help others and influence politics. It features testimonials from Chapin’s family (including Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin), as well as peers including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kenny Rogers, Robert Lamm (Chicago), Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Pat Benatar, Bob Geldof, Ken Kragen, longtime bassist John Wallace, and WhyHunger co-founder Bill Ayres.
As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end world hunger. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work. That medal is currently on display along with other Harry Chapin artifacts at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
The event is also part charity food drive as there will be collection boxes and LIMEHOF is asking that attendees bring food donations for Harry Chapin’s Long Island Cares organization whose CEO Paule Pachter is featured in the film and will be participating as a panelist.
The event is free with the purchase of a general admission ticket. The Q&A portion with the filmmakers will be hosted by LIMEHOF Vice Chairman and the longtime host of the Sounds of Film Radio Show Tom Needham.
For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit LIMEHOF’s website.
In Albany’s storied music history, the short tenure of J.B. Scott’s has lasted for decades as a Central Avenue music venue of legend. With a capacity of ~600, J.B. Scott’s opened in 1979 and closed in 1982 after it was damaged by a fire.
But if you were alive and around in the Albany environs in the turn of the eighties, you might have gone to a sonic bunker of a place called J.B. Scott’s. Owned by Douglas Jacobs and Vinnie Birbiglia, this nightclub had a list of bands – including In those three years, bands including U2, John Mellencamp, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bryan Adams, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Pat Benatar, Meat Loaf, Iggy Pop, The Go-Go’s, Count Basie and Buddy Rich – that would, at the same time, be chewing through the Billboard Top 40.
I reached out to owner Vinnie Birbiglia, and I learned quite a bit.
RadioRadioX: J.B. Scott’s, ‘J’ and ‘B’ are yours and Douglas Jacobs’s last names. So you two started this in 1979. I’ve been around a ton of scenes, seen them start and fade away. What was it like in the weeks before you opened? Was it just to make a couple of bucks, or was it something more?
Vinnie Birbiglia: I was working at the time at Record Town. I was the general manager for Upstate Music. We had the store on New Karner Road and Albany Street, I believe. And Doug came in one time, and we were talking, and we hit it off. We then started doing shows at the Madison Theater. And that’s how we started J.B. Scott’s.
Vinnie Birbiglia with James Brown at The Colonie Theater. Photo by Dave Suarez
RRX: Madison Theater is doing some pretty cool stuff now.
VB: It was a great theater as far as acoustics went. And the only problem that the place had was parking, because it’s a residential area.
RRX: The only experience I had with J.B.’s was J. B,’s Theater, which was across from Westgate Plaza. I’ve never been to J.B. Scott’s, the original place. What was the space like; what was the venue like when you first went in it?
VB: It was a rectangular building that – we put the stage on the opposite wall to the bar. Therefore, everybody was right on top of the stage, which, when the bands came in, they loved it.
RRX: That’s cool, because the way a lot of clubs are set up, if you’re in the back, you’re in the nosebleeds.
VB: Yeah, exactly.
RRX: What was the place before you guys had it?
VB: It was the S&H Green Stamp building. When you went shopping, they would give you little stamps that you put into a book, and then you use the book to buy stuff. It was a very plain building. It was a concrete floor, cinderblock walls and a wood roof.
RRX: How long did it take you to build it up into the club itself?
VB: Honestly, I don’t remember. It wasn’t that long. The only thing we had to do was build the bar and build the stage.
RRX: One thing everybody remembers about J.B, Scott’s is that you had everyone there. U2, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Pat Benatar, Rick Derringer, Buddy Rich to name a few. In fact, Al Quaglieri, in the Facebook group, Albany: The Way it Was, compiled a list that looked to be two feet long. How did you get those people to show up?
VB: I was pretty well-known in the music industry. So I had lots of contacts at the labels. Since we had starting doing shows at the Madison Theater and at the Palace Theater, we did a show or two at Proctor’s Theater, the agents saw that we knew what we were doing. We got along with the bands, and like I said, I had my contacts at the labels, with the promotion departments at the record companies. That helped us decide who we were going to book, and that also showed the industry, again, that we knew what we were doing. That’s how we basically started, and word got out and bands wanted to play for us.
RRX: When you were doing a different national act every day practically, what were some of the challenges you faced? Were there any challenges that weren’t just the basic challenges of running a club?
VB: Back then, at that timeframe, it was getting the customers to come in. For every band that we did, it was one winner, three losers, financially. And then, because of politics, we were getting screwed by the agencies, even though the name of the game was ‘you book the band the first time they come to an area, that band is your band going forward.’ Yet when we had acts that we broke in the Albany market, some agencies would give the band to a different promoter when they were big enough to play the Palace Theater.
RRX: Yeah, that sucks.
VB: Tell me about it.
RRX: The J.B. Scott’s was, aside from the mechanical aspects, thinking the whole scene: do you think it could be done today, with the way the industry is?
VB: I don’t think so. I think that the cost factor is too prohibitive. If we were to think of opening up a club in this environment, it would be a very expensive proposition.
RRX: I had a practice space in J.B.’s Theater, when New Music was in there, and a friend told me I was playing where Stevie Ray Vaughan once drank a fifth of Crown Royal. I doubt that’s true, but it actually references one of the saddest moment for the area music scene; the fire that closed J.B, Scott’s. What can you tell me about that?
VB: Some kids tried to rob us, and they set a fire, and thy got caught a year later. Actually, we made the front page of the Times Union for the fire, and made the back page of the first section when the kids got caught because when they got caught, it was the same day as Erastus Corning, the Albany mayor, died.
And the place didn’t actually burn down. Like I said, it was concrete floor, concrete walls. The only real damage was the roof. The worst part about it was the fact that the fire voided our lease. While we had insurance and paid the bills that we had outstanding, the landlord still voided the lease that we had. So that’s what became the end of J.B. Scott’s.
RRX: Okay, so J.B.’s Theater, as I brought up before. How much time between J.B. Scott’s and J.B.’s Theater?
VB: Over a year. And it lasted about a year or so. It was too big for the area. Also, the drinking age went to twenty-one, so that became a problem. And we were the first place in the state, I believe, that had underage patrons in a place that had a bar. We actually closed off the bar and used the roller skating section for where we built the stage and did a majority of shows.
RRX: So we cover a lot of smaller venues, and there are a lot of interesting local scenes. What advice would you give to the owner of a smaller venue to get near to where J.B. Scott’s was in its time?
VB: I don’t think anybody can. We had the balls, so-to-speak, to do all different types of genres in the music industry. Now, unless you have a big bankroll, you’re really locked in to doing local bands. The cost factor is just too prohibitive.
RRX: This is where you answer the question I didn’t ask.
VB: Had it not been for the fire, it’d be very interesting to see where we would’ve been today. We had some competition, but the competition we had tried to only stick with certain types of artists coming in. We tried to broaden the horizon.
This article was originally featured in RadioRadioX
JazzBuffalo will celebrate this year’s International Jazz Day this Sunday, April 30, from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. International Jazz Day began in 2011 and will be the fifth annual celebration of the event at JazzBuffalo, which has made this year’s International Jazz Day a free event in the spirit of promoting community and global peace at Seneca One in downtown Buffalo.
The lineup for this year’s International Jazzday Celebration. Credit: JazzBuffalo.
Scheduled to perform are some of Buffalo’s best jazz trios and jazz artists. JazzBuffalo is presenting a Jazz Trio Festival and then a special closing concert featuring a quintet of our finest next-generation jazz musicians. The schedule is planned as follows:
1:15 pm – The Andrew Nixon Trio 2:45 pm – Donny Frauenhofer 4:00 pm – Livestream of International Jazz Day Global Concert 5:00 pm – The Cousins Trio 6:30 pm – The Lindsey Holland Unit
There will be approximately 20-30 minutes between each performance to allow for changeover and set up.
International Jazz Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2011 in honor of jazz music’s ability to promote intercultural dialogue, tolerance, and mutual understanding, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of jazz music as a common medium for peace, unity, and creativity.
Herbie Hancock will take viewers on an international tour of sights and sounds showcasing jazz in all its diversity featuring performances from China, Lebanon, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, France, Brazil, Austria, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
The live-streamed concert event will feature performances by some of the world’s most accomplished jazz artists, such as Cyrille Aimée (France), Thana Alexa (USA), Sérgio Mendes (Brazil), Thandi Ntuli (South Africa), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Somi (Rwanda) among others. Renowned Mbira player Musekiwa Chingodza (Zimbabwe) will duet with Oran Etkin (Israel) on baritone clarinet; the Blue Note China Jazz Orchestra joins the Global Concert from Beijing; and JazzWomenAfrica celebrates from Casablanca.
JazzBuffalo will make every effort to live-stream the annual International Jazz Day Global Concert so fans can see and hear the event on the big screen.
Visit EventBrite to register and save a spot for what promises to be a memorable time celebrating International Jazz Day. Donations are suggested and will be kindly accepted by JazzBuffalo.
The Outlaw Music Festival has added an additional 16 shows to its lineup, including a performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and Forest Hills Stadium this fall. Additionally, it was previously announced that the festival would have a performance at the Darien Lake Amphitheater and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts this July.
Presented by Wheatley Vodka, the largest-ever Outlaw tour continues the celebration of Willie’s milestone 90th birthday just as Willie wants it – on the road with his friends, family, and beloved fans.
The Outlaw Music Festival first began in 2016, and the sold-out show was so well received that Blackbird Presents and Nelson have developed it into one of North America’s biggest annual touring franchises. Musicians such as Robert Plant, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, ZZ Top, Eric Church, Bonnie Raitt, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers and many more have been a part of the Outlaw Tour.
“I am so thrilled to announce these additional dates for our 2023 Outlaw Music Festival Tour,” said Willie Nelson. “I can’t wait to keep the celebration of my 90th birthday going into the fall with this great lineup of artists, my friends and family, and of course, the amazing fans.”
David Binder, Willie and Wheatley fan and brand director at Sazerac, said “Wheatley Vodka is thrilled to be hitting the road with Outlaw Music Festival this year. Our vodka is made in the heartland of the USA in Frankfort, KY, and is crafted to be the smoothest, most sippable vodka on the market. It’s the perfect spirit to enjoy when rocking out to music from all the talented artists on tour with Outlaw this summer.”
Tickets to the Outlaw Music Festival, which includes a performance at SPAC and Forest Hills Stadium, go on sale April 28 at 10 a.m.
Information on individual Outlaw Music Festival tour dates and lineups:
Friday, September 8, 2023
Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek
Willie Nelson & Family
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The String Cheese Incident
Los Lobos
Particle Kid
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Willie Nelson & Family
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The String Cheese Incident
Particle Kid
More TBA
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Willie Nelson & Family
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack
Particle Kid
More TBA
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
Willie Nelson & Family
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack
Particle Kid
Friday, September 15, 2023
Saratoga Springs, NY – SPAC
Willie Nelson & Family
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack
The String Cheese Incident
Los Lobos
Particle Kid
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Willie Nelson & Family
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack
The String Cheese Incident
Los Lobos
Particle Kid
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
Willie Nelson & Family
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack
The String Cheese Incident
Los Lobos
Particle Kid
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Willie Nelson & Family
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack
Particle Kid
Friday, September 22, 2023
Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Willie Nelson & Family
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack
The String Cheese Incident
Particle Kid
Friday, October 6, 2023
West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Gov’t Mule
Elizabeth Cook
Particle Kid
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Gov’t Mule
Elizabeth Cook
Particle Kid
Sunday, October 8, 2023
Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Gov’t Mule
Elizabeth Cook
Particle Kid
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Huntsville, AL – The Orion Amphitheater
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
Particle Kid
Friday, October 13, 2023
Brandon, MS – The Brandon Amphitheater
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
Elizabeth Cook
Particle Kid
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
The Wailers from Jamaica brought classic roots reggae to The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls on Saturday, April 22. Playing to a packed theater, the band got the crowd to their feet for a night of reggae dancing after much enticing and cajoling. In the end, as it always is with roots reggae, it was the music that brought them to their feet. Roots infects the soul with a groove, and when it is the classics from The Wailers, there is no resisting the dance. New Yorkers that caught The Wailers at the Brooklyn Bowl back in 2019 know this so well!
Mitchell Brunings, lead singer of The Wailers. Photo by Derek Java.
Lead by the son of famed bassist and founder Aston “Familyman” Barrett, the band brought love and light to The Strand. Aston Barrett, Jr. sat tight on the drums all evening, keeping a groovy rhythm with bassist Owen “Dreadie” Reid. On lead guitar was Wendel “Junior Jazz” Ferraro, and on keys was Andres “Ipez” Lopez. Backup singers Alecia Marie and Teena “Tamara” Barnes were amazing and held the crowd in love. Lead singer Mitchell Brunings is perfect singing Bob Marley’s parts on the classics. Reggae is good for the soul, and this night proved to be a refreshing experience for a thirsty crowd. This concert-goer can not wait for them to return!
The Wailers band leader Aston Barrett Jr. Photo by Derek Java.
Set 1: Trenchtown Rock, Is This Love, Concrete Jungle, Chant Down Babylon, Satisfy My Soul, Destiny, Get Up Stand Up, Stir It Up, Three Little Birds, One Love.
Set 2: No More Trouble, Rat Race, Rebel Music, No Woman No Cry, Crazy Baldhead, One World, Coming in From the Cold, Lively Up Yourself.
Encore: Redemption Song, Buffalo Soldier, Could You Be Loved.
Catch The Wailerson tour now across the US and back again.
It was a hazy, high-energy night of other worldly soundscapes, prog-inspired improv, funky dance grooves, and surprise sit-ins in Saratoga Springs on April 19th, as revered indie jam rockers Dopapod and charismatic up-and-comers Baked Shrimp joined forces for a wild time at Putnum Place, a show presented by Hartstone Productions.
Kicking off the festivities was red-hot Long Island crustation sensation Baked Shrimp. The fiery trio wasted no time getting the party going, launching into mythical beast mode early with “Chimera.” “Is this all a dream or am I awake?” crooned guitarist Jared Cowen, as the band magnetically pulled you into an exploratory and surreal type-two realm before the opening 16-minute number would reach its impressive peak.
Drummer Jager Soss would take over on vocal duties during the up-tempo swing of “Molly Ann” and then trade them off to bassist Scott Reill on the equally energetic “Pig Hearts and Mechanical Parts.” Playing this particular show using Dopapod drummer Neal Evans massive kit, Soss was like a kid in a candy store here, clearly having a blast while utilizing all the bells, blocks and cymbals that were at his disposal.
The prog-heavy technical chops of the band were on full display once again during “Missing Midnight,” which by now, everyone that had been standing in the back, had collectively moved forward to get a better look at the young sorcery taking shape before their eyes. Celebrating the one-year anniversary of his custom Forshage guitar, Cowen and his trusty new ax known as “The Wrench” sounded particularly potent during the set closing “Wannabe,” which also included an “I Am The Slime” tease by Frank Zappa for good measure. Despite the time constraints, it was another impressive set by this talented young band from New York. As early believers, tracking Baked Shrimp’s continued growth over the last few years has been an absolute joy and it seems like their hard work is beginning to pay off. With a massive summer ahead that includes making their Peach Festival debut, along with high profile slots at Northlands and The Rye Bread Music Festival, it’s safe to say these talented nice guys are right on the cusp of busting out of their proverbial shells.
After a brief intermission followed by several minutes of sci-fi ambiance, it was finally time for our headliners Dopapod to take over. No stranger to the Putnum Place, the band has played several memorable shows here, including joint gigs with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, a “Grateful Sabbath” themed Halloween show, and just last year playing a single-song set covering Pink Floyd’s “Echoes.” On the eve of April 20th, it felt like anything was fair game.
Kicking things into high gear off the rip was “Numbers Need Humans” from the bands 2019 album Emit Time. Consisting of Eli Winderman on keys, Rob Compa on guitar, Chuck Jones on bass and Neal “Fro” Evans on drums, Dopapod had the whole room vibing right from the start. The dank grooves continued as the band seamlessly transitioned into the always coveted “New James,” which took on a far more sentimental feel here as Dopapod worked in a significant “Wax” tease, paying tribute to their peers and friends in Lotus. Still fresh in everyone’s mind, fans of both bands continue to grieve the suddenly loss of Lotus’ percussionist Chuck Morris and his son Charley who tragically lost their lives on a recent kayaking trip.
“Wheazy” and “Test of Time” would then follow suit before segueing nicely into “Imaginary Friend.” From there, Dopapod would get some help from a real-life friend in moe. drummer Vinny Amico, who would trade seats with Neal Evans to sink his teeth into “Dracula’s Monk” and bring the hour long first set to a pummeling close.
Following a 25 minute intermission, Putnum Place popped off once again when Dopapod returned with a dynamic “Sonic” > “My Elephant vs. Your Elephant” combo to get the second frame rolling. The band would then invite another longtime friend, Adrian Tramontano of Twiddle/Kung Fu/ The Breakfast fame out to play drums on the popular old-school track “Indian Grits.” The heavy hands of Tramontano both brought the thunder and the house down during his extended solo, wowing the crowd to rowdy new heights.
Accompanied by a spectacular light show, the energy level would go through the roof on the next song “Vol. 3 #86” which would flow through “Man or Machine” and finally land on “Black Holes”; the only song from the band’s latest self-titled studio album to be played on this night.
With just 5 minutes to go before the stroke of midnight, the band opted to go with the appropriate “Nuggy Jawson” to officially ring in the 4/20 holidaze and put a bow on yet another memorable performance at the Putnum.
A jam packed show from start to finish, in a room full of longtime fans and friends, complete with surprise sit-ins from members of moe. and Twiddle, it was everything you could have hoped for on this mid-week throwdown in Saratoga Springs. Up next for Dopapod, the band will take a few weeks off before returning to the road for a lengthy run of shows that will see them through the end of May. Their only confirmed summer festival appearance thus far is set for the last weekend in June at the annual High Sierra Music Fest in Quincy, California.
Dopapod | 04/19/2023 | Putnam Place | Saratoga Springs, NY
Set I: Numbers Need Humans >New James * ->Wheazy, Test of Time ^ > Imaginary Friend. Dracula’s Monk +
Set 2: Sonic ^ -> My Elephant vs. Your Elephant, Indian Grits %, Vol. 3 #86 > Man or Machine -> Black Holes
Encore: Nuggy Jawson
* Wax (Lotus) tease
^ Unfinished
+ with Vinnie Amico of moe. on drums
% with Adrian Tramontano of Twiddle, The Breakfast, and Kung Fu on drums
Baked Shrimp | 04/19/2023 | Putnam Place | Saratoga Springs, NY
Setlist: Chimera, Molly Ann -> Pig Hearts and Mechanical Parts, Missing Midnight, Wannabe*
Brooklyn-based alt-band Citrus Maxima has dived headfirst into the indie-rock genre with their newest release “I Don’t Wanna Die,” the first single from their upcoming record. With hundreds of thousands of Spotify streams and years of local gigging experience around New York, the band is looking forward to releasing their upcoming debut album this spring.
The new single “I Don’t Wanna Die” is a song that cuts through the dirge of washed-out, lazy indie rock and instantly jolts the listener with its infectious chorus. The band captures this by combining wailing feedback, crunchy guitars, and driving drums with instantly catchy vocals and heartfelt melodies.
Formed in Albany, but now based in Brooklyn, Citrus Maxima offers up a fresh take on indie rock, anchored by strong songwriting, raw energetic rhythms, and melodic guitars. Citrus Maxima was originally formed in 2014 with Shawn Majeed on drums and Lucas Rinaldi on guitar and vocals. The band added members Wyatt Kirschner on lead guitar in 2018, and Max Gucinski on bass and backup vocals in 2021.
Citrus Maxima has built up a strong online presence with a string of successful releases. In December 2020, the band released “1970”, their most played song with over 250k Spotify streams, and followed up with “Sprouts” a small collection of songs including “Seeds Don’t Bleed”, which incorporates a 90s alternative rock influence.
Their “live session” videos uploaded to YouTube further solidified their online buzz, as their cover of Pavement song “Harness Your Hopes” even grabbed the attention of Pavement member Bob Nastanovich, who praised the cover on social media. Devotees of the DIY ethos, all releases, social media growth, and touring was planned and executed by the band alone without the assistance of a label or management.
Listen to “I Don’t Wanna Die” by clicking the link here.
Jazz is PHSH will be heading out on a late spring tour covering the Northeast and Midwest from May 31 to June 11. The instrumental group bring electrifying interpretations of the Phish song book for Phish phans and Jazz fans to dive into, including shows at Buffalo Iron Works and Nublu in NYC.
Don’t let the name of the band fool you – while the arrangements for Jazz is PHSH are steeped in jazz, the funky, rocking fusion interpretations of the music will bring you to your feet.
A rare treat, Jazz Is PHSH creates an exhilarating experience, journeying through the catalogue of Phish while seamlessly weaving the songs together with the music of jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius and Herbie Hancock.
Figuring out the songs as they are rearranged and reimagined is equally as fun an aspect of Jazz Is PHSH that Phish phans enjoy as much sharing in the groove of the music. For jazz fans and those unfamiliar with the music of Phish, the deep dives into the history books of jazz as well as the references to current artists like Robert Glasper and Nate Smith provide a never ending stream of auditory pleasure.
The upcoming Spring Tour includes a mix of sit down jazz clubs like the Bop Stop in Cleveland on June 1 and famous rock club venues like Nectars in Burlington on June 8.
The mix of rooms will give fans an opportunity to catch a few different shows on the tour to have a range of experiences with the band. While their catalogue is not quite as big as Phish’s hundreds of songs spanning over 40 years, Jazz Is PHSH has been touring since 2015 and has created an impressive catalgoue of their own.
With mashups of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself” with Nate Smith’s “Bounce” and Phish’s “Divided Sky” with the John Coltrane masterpiece “A Love Supreme” along with a plethora of other mashups of Phish songs, the band is able to craft unique setlists each night so that fans that travel with the band can have unique experiences each night.
JAZZ is PHSH Spring Tour 2023
May 31 – Cincinnati OH – Fretboard Brewing
June 1 – Cleveland OH – Bop Stop June 2 – Baltimore MD – 8×10 (w/ The Chase Brothers) June 3 – Toronto ON – Adelaide Hall June 7 – Buffalo NY – Buffalo Iron Works June 8 – Burlington VT – Nectars June 9 – New Market NH – Stone Church June 10 – Manchester CT – Main Pub June 11 – New York, NY – Nublu
