The sounds of Mikaela Davis’ harp once again danced through Armory Square in Syracuse, as Davis and her band, Southern Star returned to Funk ’n Waffles for a performance on Friday, December 8. The band last played Syracuse in May, with a stunning three-show residency. Rochester natives Maybird opened the show.
2023 has been quite kind for Davis, the classically trained harpist from Rochester. Davis and her band released their first full length album as a unit, And Southern Star in June. They have played multiple show residencies in various cities through out New York State, which have often seen the shows sell out well in advance. The band recently wrapped up a west-coast tour which saw them opening for indie favorites, The Mountain Goats. They have come together for one final run through Upstate New York before the year closes.
Friday night opened with a set by Rochester natives Maybird. The psychedelic rockers delighted early arrivers to the club, with a forty minute set filled with spacey guitar riffs. Fans packed their way to the front and were quickly engrossed in the band’s psychedelic sounds.
After a brief stage change over, which saw Davis herself drag and tune her harp at center stage, Southern Star joined and the set was under way. Fans were immediately met with the hypnotic harp intro of “Cinderella”, the opening track on the band’s recent release. Slowly the remainder of the band would add their sounds to the mix. The band would follow with the appropriately named “In My Groove”, which had fans dancing and swaying in front of the stage.
While Mikaela Davis and her harp talents may be the primary draw for listeners, Southern Star proved to be anything but a backing band. Through out the set each band member would lay their musical finger prints on the tracks, transforming them from their studio form to live masterpieces. The band would regularly go on extended musical jam sessions during songs, paying homage to their musical inspirations such as Grateful Dead. Tracks like “Leave It” took on new life when paired with Kurt Johnson’s pedal steel, Cian McCarthy’s saxophone, while Shane McCarthy (bass guitar) and Alex Cote (percussion) kept pace. The song, after an extended jam would then flow seamlessly into the rocking “Promise”. It was just one of many moments during the set that showcased the band’s refreshing musical talents.
After a ninety minute set and a brief encore, the band would return to the stage with opener Maybird for an energetic rendition of “Other Lover”. The song would see band members taking turns on various pieces of percussion, including a colander. It was a fun way to wrap up the evening, but still showcase the many musical talents that graced the stage on this evening.
2023 has been a busy year for Mikaela Davis and Southern Star. It all started in January with two three-show residencies in Rochester and Woodstock that had the band playing one set of originals and one set of themed Grateful Dead material. In the band’s home base of Rochester, the three shows sold out in advance at the living-room-intimate Abilene. The band then took the show’s concept on the road, hitting venues along the eastern seaboard and even more multi-show residencies across upstate New York. They would continue to tour hard throughout the year as headliners, openers, and a part various festival lineups. They also released their first album as a band late in the summer.
They closed out the year with a short run of shows with their old friends Maybird, culminating where the year, and the band began, back in Rochester. This time at the brand new venue, Essex, which is younger than even their new album. The space holds roughly ten times what Abilene can, and was nearly full, so the hard work paid off with a bigger fanbase. Davis declared it the biggest headlining show they’ve ever played, and the exchange of energy from the crowd to the stage and back was palpable.
A Brian Blatt liquid light show bathed the stage in slow oozing organic forms throughout the night. From the get go, it matched and complimented the music perfectly. The band was in no rush with a spacey intro to the show opening “Cinderella.” The ensuing “In My Groove” likewise got going with spacey looping. “Get Gone” also got front-loaded with a short jam, this one groovier, almost Dead-like. Post-verses, it showcased one of the bands many strengths as Davis’ harp led the way, interweaving brilliantly with Cian McCarthy and Kurt Johnson’s guitars and Shane McCarthy’s bass.
Languid and lovely, “The Pearl,” featured a slowly unfolding gorgeous improvisation that had all five members contributing an interlocking piece of the whole. A rock band led by a harp is unique in-and-of-itself, but add in a pedal steel and a sax-playing guitarist, and a penchant for turning pretty things into down and dirty jams, and Southern Star is a one-of-a-kind marvel. Even when they lean into familiar influences, they’re approached from a new-to-the-world angle. No one is doing this, sounding like that.
“Leave It Alone” let loose with this uniqueness. A lengthy guitar choogle dissolved into spacey noodling. Davis grabbed the reins and the band slowly crystallized around her flourishing harp. Cian McCarthy switched to his sax and the music took a turn into avant-garde jazz, reaching into searing cosmic domains. When McCarthy got back on his guitar, the jazz tenor remained, advancing to a 70’s style fusion for a short spurt. His brother pounded a repetitive theme into submission and eventually the rest of the band followed as they deftly drifted into “Promise.” The extraordinary sequence highlighted the growth a year on the road as provided.
Later, “Don’t Stop Now,” provided more groundwork from which they could showcase their multi-faceted approach. Davis answered the age-old question, “Can a harp choogle?”, with a big jam out of the gates, which ceded to guitar and then Johnson’s electric lap steel and eventually back to McCarthy on sax. They went deep into a sparse and chunky space which would slip into the psychedelic “Pure Divine Love.”
The show closed out with “Other Lover,” with the opening band Maybird out in full, each on a different piece of percussion, from the traditional congas to the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink variety (literally) like a metal colander. Maybird, another Rochester band, appropriately joined Mikaela Davis on her first tour. But more than that, Kurt Johnson was an original member of Maybird and Shane McCarthy is frequently playing bass for them. Davis and Josh Netsky frequently collaborated in various projects before Maybird or Southern Star were even conceived. So it was an appropriate end-of-the-year hometown billing for sure.
The ragtag group of percussionists would be back for the encore, along with Overhand Sam on guitar as the band ripped a celebratory version of “After Midnight” played just before 11pm. And now we wait to see what 2024 has in store for Mikaela Davis and Southern Star. Of course we know it will start with a co-headlining tour with Circles Around the Sun, so check that out if they’re heading your way.
Maybird opened with a solid 45 minutes overview of their strengths, including some of their oldest material and some of their newest. “Open Your Eyes” appropriately opened up into a quality psychedelic workout, with guitarist Overhand Sam and keyboardist Sam Hirsch combining into a fuzzed-up mash.
Shane McCarthy was pulling double-duty, holding down the bass for both bands, wearing the appropriate band tee for each set. Brother Cian and Kurt Johnson joined in on the fun during the band’s namesake “Maybird.” With Johnson returning to his former band, and McCarthy on sax, the band was truly at full power. The denser their sound gets the better, and that played out perfectly during the slow ferociousness of “Maybird.” The pair stayed on board for the following “Gonna Lose Your Mind,” and Johnson remained for the rest of the set. He provided some just-like-the-old-days moments during “Turning Into Water” and “Call You Mine.”
It was a great night to celebrate Rochester music, past and future, at Essex with Maybird and Mikaela Davis and Southern Star.
Setlists
Mikaela Davis and Southern Star: Cinderella, In My Groove, Home in the Country, Get Gone, The Pearl, Far From You, Leave It Alone, Promise, Don’t Stop Now, Pure Divine Love, Other Lover*
Encore: After Midnight** * with Maybird on various percussion ** with Sam Snyder on guitar, Maybird on percussion
Maybird: Keep In Line, Don’t Keep Me Around, Open Your Eyes, Lost In Wonderland, Maybird*, Gonna Lose Your Mind*, Turning Into Water**, Call You Mine*** * with Cian McCarthy on sax, Kurt Johnson on pedal steel/lap steel ** with Kurt Johnson on guitar *** with Kurt Johnson on lap steel
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.
Happy New Year! Hopefully you are all rested up and ready to kick off January 2023 with a bang Rochester! January brings a big slowdown in touring acts around these parts, and in most parts of the country. But luckily for us, Rochester has a broad and deep pool of fantastic local talent to sate our live music appetites and this January they are coming out in full force to get us out of our warm abodes and out into the bars, clubs, theaters and anywhere else live music can be squeezed into.
Here are five+ must-see shows happening around town this month, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg, so make sure to get out there and support the local music scene and treat your cabin-fevered brain to some much needed aural relief.
We’re recommending two different shows on the same night, but if you play your cards right you could do both. Herb Smith plays trumpet for the Rochester Philharmonic but with the Freedom Trio he expands his sound palette with plenty of effects and literally the freedom to explore the outer boundaries of jazz and beyond. With Peter Chwazik on a massive 9-string bass and Joe Parker flying free on drums, the possibilities are endless and the results are a joy to hear and be a part of.
One of Rochester’s many recent breakout bands, Mikaela Davis kicks off a three show residency at our favorite honky tonk, Abilene Bar and Lounge, that will warm January and creep into early February. Each night will feature two sets and as yet unannounced themes. We wouldn’t recommend missing any of these Thursday night throw downs but really, you absolutely have to get yourself to at least one. A favorite of Bob Weir’s and ours alike, this harpist and her band Southern Star are as can’t miss as they come, and Rochester gets three intimate opportunities to groove down with them in a cozy and intimate bar.
Shows January 19, 26 and February 2 will start at 8pm and tickets are $15/$20 dos.
Certainly you can get out to all of these awesome individual local shows, but there won’t be any better option for celebrating the local music scene than the annual (until Covid stopped it for 2 years) Homegrown Festival thrown by Lovin’ Cup. This year’s show will feature performances by Teagan and the Tweeds, A Girl Named Genny, The Mighty High & Dry, The Moho Collective, Friday In America, and The John Payton Project. That’s a full day of some of the best music you’ll here in Rochester, plus there’ll be tons of local food, beers and crafts to enjoy as well.
Fresh faced instrumental progressive rock quartet Vertices is putting on a festival of their own at Flour City Station. They’ll play a full set of their heavily improvised high energy jams and are a new band that you’ll want to keep a close eye in 2023. Painted Birds will also perform and everything will be stitched together with DJ sets from DDH PVH. There will be catered food, live painting, and art vendors making this another cant-miss celebration of the local art scene.
Everything gets going at 8pm and tickets are $10/$15 dos.
