Essex, a new music venue, is coming to Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts in the fall, already booking two acclaimed Rochester-based acts Joywave and Danielle Ponder.
Photo credit Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Essex, a music hall and multi-events space, will open at 1048 University Ave. The venue said on its website that it aims to add vibrancy, culture, and life to the Rochester community.
The owners of Essex are Josh Miles, Zach Mikida, Mack Hartman, and Dave Drago. The first three deal with the hospitality side of the venue, while Drago handles the music. The venue features two bars and an industrial-looking outside, changing soon to be a little warmer and accommodating.
In an area that has very few venues, the music hall will be a nice addition to the area, and allow more bands to travel Upstate without going to such major cities as Buffalo or Niagara Falls. The main focus of the venue is to showcase various artists that come to the area, allowing people to enjoy good music and vibes.
Danielle Ponder announced shows for Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7. Both shows will begin at 11 p.m. and tickets cost $30. Indie rock band Joywave announced shows for Thursday, Nov. 16, and Friday, Nov. 17. Both shows will begin at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $35. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and producer Tim Atlas drops his new EP Le Soir, part one of a larger body of work. Tim Atlas floods a nocturnal hybrid of R&B, neo-soul, alternative, and pop with unrestrained emotion on this latest project. Gathering hundreds of millions of streams and inciting the applause of Complex, Earmilk, The Line of Best Fit, Spin, and many more, he opens up like never before on his 2023 EP, Le Soir.
“This E.P. is the first chapter of three. It’s a collection of songs that I wrote as a result of moving to NYC, a place that has always allowed you to fully be yourself. I never defined myself as one thing, so this record is a testament to that,” says Tim Atlas. He introduced Le Soir with the entrancing and electrifying “Knockin.” The EPalso features recent releases “Attractive” and “See Thru.”
Standout release day track “Sushi in Wyoming” is fueled by a slick drum pattern and glitchy synths. Tim states, “Driving cross country from LA to NY, we literally stopped in Wyoming for a night. At that point of the road trip, I couldn’t stomach another burger or gas station staple, so I opted for sushi. Sometimes the worst version of something you crave is better than the alternative. I wrote the title in my notes app so I wouldn’t forget that moment. It actually wasn’t bad.”
Tim is slated for a headline US tour that kicks off in September, with Bay Area band Pink Skies. For ticket information, visit here.
Brooklyn Celebrates! is one of New York City’s most beloved musical experiences. At the outdoor setting of the Bandshell stage, free admission and delicious locally sourced foods made city goers flock to the park for one last summer hoorah. The Head And The Heart’s long-standing luminary folk sound pulled in one of the largest crowds to ever attend the festival.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
One of August’s faltering days where rain overtakes the forecast to hint at autumn’s approach took place. The grass turned to mud, people huddled under trees dense with leaves for shelter, and umbrellas sprouted and flowered above heads in the crowd like colorful flower buds. Despite the wet chill in the air, people spent their entire days in the park in a slow burn of anticipation. A Brooklyn crowd cannot be beaten, for the kindest people mingled and introduced themselves over the common ground of an affinity for music.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
Between the spouts of drizzling rain the opener, Izzy Heltai, took the stage. The alternative folk singer provided a great introduction, for his sound was unique and the crowd received him warmly. Izzy’s lyrics were humanly raw with an unwavering braveness to them, braveness through vulnerability. The queer singer sang passionately about the cruciality of mental health and its interconnection with the queer community. He sang of relationships, places, and seasons from a very personal perspective. Though, it’s wondrous how the most personal ideas can be so universal, for each song was lifted up and represented by the audience. Heltai expressed his gratitude for the platform he commanded that evening, and for the opportunity to share the same stage as The Head And The Heart.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
After a brief intermission between sets and another rain shower, The Head And The Heart finally made their way onto the Bandshell stage. The murmurs of conversations abruptly shifted into eager cheers, and the tungsten lights turned blue in solidarity with The Head And The Heart’s most recent record Every Shade Of Blue. The sextet took their places behind their instruments and mics to begin the show.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
The Head And The Heart is an esteemed band in the music industry, having released their first record in 2011. They moved into a particular corner of folk music and consistently paid rent, delivering five total records of great esteem. Lead singer, Josiah Johnson, reminisced on the last time the band was at Celebrate Brooklyn! back in 2012. He spoke lightly about the band’s origin and journey since then and thanked everyone in the audience for supporting them all these years. Johnson introduced the rest of his band members; the impressive multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Charity Rose Thielen, guitarist Johnathan Russel, bassist Chris Zasche, drummer Tyler Williams, and pianist Kenny Hensely.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
Each of the members’ contributions to The Head And The Heart’s sound proved vital and intentional. They have a raw sound cultivated in production that isn’t lost but tastefully added to during their live sets. Dominant, messy, tuneful piano notes mixed with crisp and punctual percussion, all led by the melody of Rose’s violin strings, made for a distinct foundation for their collective musicality. If the emotional sensation of longing could be a sound, it would be The Head And The Heart song.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
Their song “Lost In My Mind” from their first self-titled album made a lasting impression on the show. Each band member’s stage presence was electrified, and the high-energy crowd fed off of it. Pockets of fans linked arms to spin and skip. Arms flung up towards the sky in praise. One audience member even lifted their head-phoned baby above the crowd, gently bouncing him to the beat of the music. Johnson shouted out the young fan between choruses to acknowledge, “baby’s first concert!” Even the trees that swallowed the stage seemed to dance.
As the sun set behind the gray sheet of rain, nature’s lights dimmed. The stage glowed through the light fog settling over the audience. Russel smiled up at the darkening clouds, “I swear it always rains when we come to New York.” The audience laughed at their state, soaked and content. For their last song on stage, Josiah made his way into the pit and through the audience. The Head And The Heart’s fans are very gracious. They made way for him and respected his space while he roamed.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
The band abruptly left the stage, but the audience would not accept a goodbye. There were too many songs people desperately needed to hear. Voices called out pleading for an encore. Shortly after their departure, the band returned.
They put on a three-song encore, the first of three being “The Orchid.” Lyrically, the song was a meditation on isolation and glimmers of hope that can only be spotted during dark stillness. It was so quiet in the audience that for the first time all evening, one could hear the wind brushing the trees. The last two songs were “Living Mirage,” and their most iconic song, “Rivers And Roads.” In a collective voice, the audience sang the song back to The Head And The Heart. The slow and drawn-out pounds of the drum counted out the remainder of the night. True to their sound, The Head And The Heart left Brooklyn longing for more.
Brooklyn-based group PEAK announced their first round of Fall 2023 tour dates, playing new locations as well as returning to old favorites. They’ll stop for a hometown show at the Brooklyn Bowl on October 5, as well as shows in Syracuse, Albany, and New Paltz.
The self-described psychedelic indie-funk group recently released large archives of live audio on their Bandcamp page, as well as select live performances on YouTube from recent shows in Burlington, VT, Bridgeport, CT, and more.
PEAK also announced that the group has begun recording their third studio album, set to release in early 2024.
Celebrating 20 years of her debut album, Soul Sessions, Joss Stone has embarked on a city North American tour, including a stop at the OLG Stage in Niagara Falls, Ontario on Aug. 26. Tagging along for the ride was singer/songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr.
Released in the Fall of 2013, Soul Sessions was the first studio album for Stone who was discovered at the age of 13 during a voice competition. With comparisons early on to Janis Joplin with Motown vibes, Stone had her work cut out for her and made the most of every opportunity. Soulful, bluesy, sultry, sensual, and spiritual are all perfect adjectives for any part of her music.
Prior to her soulful show, music fans were treated to some rustic sounds from Stephen Wilson Jr. Primarily a writer, Wilson has discovered that he can draw fans with his voice as well. Playing an approximately 45-minute set, he serenaded the crowd with some witty humor, 70s Bruce Springsteen-like vocals, and a guitar.
After going to school for microbiology, Wilson made the hard life choice to pursue music rather than the science field, with some inspiration from songs like “Don’t Take the Girl.” He calls himself a recovering microbiologist, and personally, I feel he made the right choice, science is overrated, anyway.
Raised by his father, they stayed close until his passing a few years ago. One of his last words to the younger Wilson was “write a good song for me.” For his father, the song “Father’s Son” was written. It is a very profound melancholy-filled song, sure to resonate with many who give it a listen.
I wear his blue jean jacket and his name like a badge of honor I used to hate being called Junior Now I don’t mind any longer
Stepen Wilson Jr. – “Father’s Son”
Many songs from his forthcoming album carry loosely based storylines from his life, including “Holler From the Holler” and “For What It’s Worth.” Keep an ear open for the new music in the next month.
With Stephen Wilson cleared from the stage, the anticipation of a night of soulful blues music was growing. With nine albums to her credit and a number of notable renditions she has performed over the years, the set list for Joss is hard to imagine. For this night, fans were treated to a medley of two songs, followed by two songs from her debut, “Super Duper Love” and “Fell in Love With a Boy.”
As she continued on, Joss shared a little bit of information from each album. Mind, Body, and Soul was all about her and her life choices. Introducing Joss Stone, which she sometimes refers to as her debut, is where she got to work with Raphael Saadiq and Laurn Hill, a dream come true for her. Color Me Free is titled based on where she was in her life, wanting her freedom space.
A storyteller as much as a vocalist, Stone seemed to float across the stage barefoot as always, as she performed and replayed her memories for her fans. Memories of previous tours, memories from trips to Botswana, and memories of working with notable talents as she blossomed into the star she is today. One story of note is from Botswana, where she was asked to write a song to bring the rain. While on a trip there, she was told that there had not been rain for nearly nine months, a true drought for sure. As requested, she wrote the song, aptly titled “Rain Song” and when she went back to Botswana to play it the rain poured down. A very spiritual person, Joss was left amazed at this marvel.
While she is known for her bluesy, jazzy styles, Joss is very capable of any genre, as she displayed during a three-song reggae set, including parts of a song that her father used to sing to her. While she is no Marley or Jimmy Cliff, her ability to put her own style on something like Island music is something that sets her apart. With an innocent giggle at the end of the set, as the stage goes dark, it’s clear that Joss was having quite a good time.
With the show winding down, fans were hit with a confetti canon as she sang about the power of music and spoke about how music brings people together, creates love, and inversely can divide people. Soulful, spiritual, and cheerful, Stone graciously thanked everyone for coming out tonight.
When artists hit the stage to perform, they often have a set routine and follow it pretty closely. I am sure that Joss Stone is no different, but the way she delivers it all is second to none. Joking with the crowd, giggling all night, dancing around the stage in any of the 3 outfits she donned, and presenting fresh sunflowers to random fans all speaks volumes to the level of fun she has. A real class act that Fallsview Casino Resort should be bragging about.
Joss Stones Setlist: Intro Medley, Super Duper Kind of Love, Fell in Love With a Boy, Jet Lag, Proper Nice, Tell Me ‘Bout It, 4&20, The Love We Had, Even the Sky, Reggae mix, When You’re In Love, Rain Song (for Botswana), Music, Put Your Hand On Me/Son of A Preacher Man, Right to Be Wrong, Spell on You, Some Kind of Wonderful
Downtown Albany will host Pearlpalooza on Saturday, September 16, 2023 on North Pearl Street, with a day full of music, yoga, vending from local businesses and much more in store.
The free, all-ages music festival, returns for its 14th year, presented by Remarkable Liquids, and co-hosted by WEQX, The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, and Sugar Productions, running from 11am to 7pm.
photo by Steve Malinski
Starting off the day will be MVP Health Care Presents YogaPalooza 2023, a street-wide mass yoga gathering event, beginning at 11am. A team of instructors from The Hot Yoga Spot will instruct and assist this free 60-minute yoga class that is perfect for all levels.
Music begins at 12pm with Sly Fox & The Hustlers, followed by The Rob Beaulieu Band at 130pm, B Chaps at 3pm, ALEXSUCKS at 4pm, and headliner Fishbone at 6pm.
Surrounding the music will be the shops and businesses of North Pearl Street, as well as high-quality local vendors, fine dining, retail, and entertainment establishments.
Parking is available at ParkAlbany’s Riverfront, Quackenbush, and Green-Hudson Garages for $8
Basic ground rules to keep in mind: no outside alcoholic beverages or glass containers; no dogs or pets, with the exception of service animals; no recording performances, and security has the right to inspect any bags brought into the event.
PearlPalooza 2023 is also presented by Nine Pin, Rare Form Brewing, Zero Gravity, Silver Therapeutics, MVP Health Care, New Scotland Spirits, ParkAlbany, O’Connell & Aronowitz, Global Partners, Putnam Place, CDTA, Homestead Funding Corp., Hampton Inn & Suites, the City of Albany, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen, and The Hot Yoga Spot.
Pearlpalooza Schedule
11:00 AM | Yogapalooza Noon | Sly Fox & The Hustlers 1:30 PM | The Rob Beaulieu Band 3:00 PM | B Chaps 4:15 PM | ALEXSUCKS 6:00 PM | Fishbone
With profound sadness, we report that James Casey, who played saxophone in Trey Anastasio Band, Lettuce and Billy and the Kids, has lost his two-year battle with colon cancer. The news was shared on James’ social media on Monday morning, August 28.
A statement from James’ family shared on social media and GoFundMe reads:
It is with profound grief and a broken heart that we confirm the passing of James Casey. He died peacefully in the early morning of August 28, 2023, surrounded by his wife and family.
James persevered through his colon cancer battle for two years, and it was the honor of his career to release solo music and perform during that time. James brought joy to everyone around him and his legacy will live on, both through his music and the advocacy work that’s become so integral to him.
It was so important to James to help others avoid his fate – to learn the importance of early colon cancer screenings, know your family history, and be an advocate for your own health. When detected early, colon cancer is almost always curable. He shared his diagnosis publicly and illuminated his ongoing battle to raise awareness and help others.
James was a remarkable human being, beloved for his wit, humility, kindness and generosity. He will be dearly missed.
James Casey was born in Washington, D.C., raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and emerged from a musical family with an insatiable passion for the arts. He enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and later relocated to New York City, where he quickly established his presence in the music scene, joining fellow Berklee alumni in Soulive, and Lettuce and later, Trey Anastasio Band, all as saxophonist. Across North America and stages around the world, Casey was a sought-after musician whose talent knew no bounds.
Among the artists James performed or collaborated with include The Roots, Phish, Meghan Trainor, Anderson .Paak, The Jonas Brothers, Maceo Parker, Carly Rae Jepsen, J.Cole, Leslie Odom Jr., Dave Matthews Band, Sabrina Claudio, Chaka Khan, Wu-Tang, John Legend, Roy Hargrove, Soulive, Lettuce, Shawn Mendes, 5th Harmony, and many more.
James also appeared on albums for artists including Brooke Parrott (Another City), J. Cole (2014 Forest Hills Drive), Jesse McCartney (In Technicolor), Chromeo (White Women), Talib Kweli (P.O.C LIVE!), Brady Watt (Good Medicine), Phish (Big Boat), Michael Kiwanuka (Kiwanuka, Final Days), among many others.
Bandleader Trey Anastasio said on social media:
I’m heartbroken about the loss of our friend and bandmate James. My heart is with James’ mother and father, his beautiful wife Ayla, and with the rest of his amazing family.
James was a magnificent soul. His spirit and personality glowed. His playing was elegant, stormy, soulful and lyrical. He was a powerful and melodic improviser, and spot on when reading intricate charts. His tone was full and warm, his singing voice was beautiful. I loved harmonizing with James. His smile filled the room.
I’ll never forget the feeling of jousting with James on baritone sax and guitar. We would make eye contact and just go for it, diving into waves of sound together. Dark, scary, blues-filled jams. He was a force of nature. It felt like being in a tiny boat together in a huge storm in the middle of the ocean.
It’s impossible to describe the deep connection that James, Natalie, and Jen had as a horn section in TAB. It was a magical, once in a lifetime section. Deep bonds of musicianship and friendship.
James’s connection with Ayla was indescribable. She poured her complete soul into caring for James throughout every second of his battle with cancer. James talked about how much it meant to him. All of James’ friends and family will be forever grateful to Ayla. All of us in the band loved seeing the two of them together. You could feel the deep love they had for each other. My heart is with Ayla today. We love you Ayla.
We all especially loved the nights on tour when James’ incredible family would come to shows. I loved seeing them laughing together in catering, or at soundcheck. James was a kind, loving, talented, and caring person, and a beautiful friend. His family completed that picture. James will be missed by all of us who loved him. James, you live in our hearts forever
Trey Anastasio
James was also known to perform with Phil Lesh and Friends, as well as Billy & The Kids, the latter of which was a quarantine connection in Hawai’i, with a detailed first-hand account from Benjy Eisen showcasing his innate ability to connect with musicians of any ilk. Said Eisen, “He showed up to rehearsal at a remote little jungle shack in Kauai and before he officially met everyone, he just started playing. Improvising. And he was instantly a full-time Kid.”
Relix notes that it was when Casey crossed paths with Trey Anastasio Band trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick during the 2012 Bowlive run at Brooklyn Bowl, leading to Anastasio recognizing his immense talent, inviting him to join Trey Anastasio Band, forming an iconic horn section of Casey, Hartswick and trombonist Natalie Cressman.
TAB horns – photo by Filip Zalewski
Two years ago, James announced he had been diagnosed with colon cancer, one that disproportionately affects African-American men and women. James continued to perform when he could in between treatments, releasing a Christmas album, A Little Something for Everyone. The first solo work from Casey, the album was created in partnership with the Nancy Langhorne Foundation, with proceeds benefitting the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Eastern Virginia Medical School’s HOPES Clinic, providing free colon cancer screenings for the uninsured.
Casey began sharing tracks from his still unreleased solo EP, The Kaua’i Project, and released an inspiring short film, Music as Medicine: a James Casey Story, both earlier this year. The film advocates for early colon cancer screening–particularly within the Black community–by utilizing Casey’s music to raise awareness about the disease.
James waged a battle against cancer with humility and grace, fighting valiantly until the end. James made it a point to use his platform and voice as a way to advocate for early colon cancer screenings, taking his battle public and advocating for the lives of others. His absence from the New York City music scene and the stages he would have played upon, will not be forgotten.
PRONOUN is back; the moniker of Brooklyn-based Alyse Vellturo released a new single and video for “SLAP ME IN THE FACE.” It’s her first release in over two years, following the 2021 release of her OMG I MADE IT EP.
“SLAP ME IN THE FACE” is an upbeat alt-pop single with a distinct diction and vocal style that adds flair to a tried-and-true pop rhythm. Contrasting an optimistic sound with rueful, gloomy lyrics, the single carries a captivating, earworm guitar track that shows Vellturo’s technical skill in the realm of simple, but effective. Evoking images of 2000s coming-of-age cinema, the single sets a strong tone for PRONOUN’s upcoming era.
“SLAP ME IN THE FACE is about a crazy night in with someone that turned into an internal joke of what if the world was literally fucking you. It’s about wanting a better situation but giving in and getting stuck in a moment where everything doesn’t feel horrible. This song poured out of me in one sitting; written, recorded, and produced in one day. The songs I feel the most about, always seem to come this way.”
The accompanying video shows Vellturo being absolutely pelted by dodgeballs coming at her from every angle.
Given the title, I always imagined getting somehow slapped in the face in slow motion. When putting a mood board together for the new PRONOUN era I was reminded of one of my favorite scenes in a movie. I Heart Huckabees is a film I could watch everyday until the end of time and discover a new easter egg. At one point Mark Wahlberg and Jason Schwartzmen end up on a log in the park together taking turns thwacking each other in the face with a red rubber ball until they feel a moment of nothingness. They call it ‘the ball thing.’ It fit how I was feeling perfectly when making this song. From that moment I knew it needed to be me standing in a studio getting absolutely destroyed with red dodgeballs.
PRONOUN
PRONOUN recently announced upcoming both headline shows and dates supporting SLOTHRUST. The tour boasts five shows across New York State, including Rochester, Albany, New York City, Syracuse, and Jameston. Tickets are on sale now.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
* PRONOUN Headline
^ supporting Slothrust
August 20 – Keene, NH – Nova Arts ^
August 22 – Boston, MA – Deep Cuts *
August 23 – Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall ^
August 24 – Albany, NY – Empire Underground ^
August 25 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground ^
August 26 – Portland, ME – Portland House of Music ^
August 29 – New York, NY – Heaven Can Wait *
November 12 – Syracuse, NY – Song & Dance ^
November 13 – Jamestown, NY – Skatepark ^
November 16 – Columbia, MO – Rose Music Hall ^
November 17 – Omaha, NE – Reverb ^
November 18 – Wichita, KS – Wave ^
November 19 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep ^
Colorado band Magic Beans has announced a span of fall tour dates, including a stop in Albany on October 26. Spanning all along the East Coast, this is the group’s most extensive tour yet, with more dates to be announced and a New Year’s Eve event in the works.
The self-described funk-soul-rock group has released a number of new singles this summer, including “Northland,” “Memory,” “You & Me,” and “Better Man.” Their latest album, Unzipped, released in 2022, takes significant influences from lo-fi recording techniques, hip-hop, and 90s neo-soul.
Magic Beans currently operates out of Colorado, where they will play hometown shows to begin the tour. Bassist Chris Duffy hails from Brooklyn, and the group will stop at Albany’s The Hollow on Oct. 26. Magic Beans is Scott Hachey (Guitar/Vocals), Casey Russell (Keyboard/Vocals), Chris Duffy (Bass/Vocals), and Cody Wales (drums).
The sounds of rock echoed between the Buffalo Harbor and the Buffalo Skyway on Friday, as Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra teamed up to bring the Amplified Echoes Tour to the Outer Harbor. The two bands are wrapping up a summer co-headlining tour which saw them swap headlining duties each night. Indie rockers the Middle Kids opened the concert.
Grey skies and soggy grounds couldn’t dampen the concert spirit, as the early arriving crowd quickly filled the concert field. The evening’s festivities kicked off with a set by the Middle Kids. Making their way from Sydney, Australia, the indie rock group wasted no time getting the crowd engaged. Opening with “Never Start” off their 2018 release Lost Friends, the upbeat track quickly had fans on their feet and moving. It quickly became apparent to those in attendance the band were rising stars on the music scene. This was never more evident than when the band would play their two newest tracks.
Early in their 30 minute set, the band performed their latest single, “Highlands,” a catchy and upbeat track that had heads bopping and is sure to have fans singing along in the near future. As the set neared a close, the band performed their other release from 2023, “Bootleg Firecracker.” The slower paced track was perhaps the highlight of this set, as singer Hannah Joy’s vocals danced and swirled in front of a layer of hypnotic sounds.
The Middle Kids perform at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
With their familiar logo draped behind and a setting sun to stage left, Manchester Orchestra took the stage next. The band wasted no time getting started, opening with the fan favorite “Pride.” The slow building rocker saw singer Andy Hull’s familiar vocals build from a near whisper, to a growl as the song’s intensity built. Fans jumped and threw fists in the air as the song exploded with a high energy finish. The band kept the momentum going with the fast paced rockers “Keel Timing” and “Bed Head” next, both tracks of their 2021 release The Million Masks of God.
The band would dig deeper into their catalog as their 75 minute set moved along. 2006’s “I Can Barely Breathe” was a prime example of the band’s ability to build intensity through out a song, while tracks like “Simple Math” and “The Gold” showcased the familiar harmonies that have become associated with the band. The band pulled off these harmonies in the concert setting with precision.
Manchester Orchestra perform at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
During the set singer Andy Hull would pause to honor a young fan in attendance who was attending her first concert. “She asked me to play ‘I Can Feel A Hot One’ so I’m going to play a little bit of that… Dad we should probably talk about why is this her favorite song,” Hull said, which was met with much laugher from the crowd. With their slot nearing a close, the band would end with “The Silence.” The track would start at a slow pace but build towards another climactic finish which saw fans passionately singing the song’s closing lyrics. As the song came to a close, Hull took the mic to the front of the stage, repeating the songs lyrics several times in front of layers of feed back as his band members laid their instruments down and left the stage.
Manchester Orchestra performs at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
Taking the headlining duties on this evening were indie-rockers Jimmy Eat World. The band took the stage in near darkness, and began the slow burning and intense “Congratulations” off their latest album, Surviving (2019). As the song’s intensity built, lights would flash to briefly illuminate the various members of the band, with front man Jim Adkins moving about the stage. By the end of the seven minute track, the song had built into a high intensity rocker. This served way for the bands’ second song, the high speed and ever popular “Bleed American.” Fans bopped and sang along to the anthemic track. The band kept the energy going as they segued into their 2001 smash hit “Sweetness” which had the audience calling back lyrics. The remainder of the bands 75 minute set served something like a running sprint, with the band firing off upbeat rocker after upbeat rocker, fitting in a total of 17 tracks during their set.
Jimmy Eat World perform at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
With their set nearing its close, the band would mellow the tempo a bit to perform the fan favorite “Hear You Me,” an emotional track about the loss of a loved one. They would waste no time ramping up the energy again, closing out the set with perhaps their biggest hit track, “The Middle.” It was a fitting way to close their set, allowing fans one last opportunity to sing and jump along to one of the band’s many hit tracks.
