NYS Music 2023

Tag: Mikaela Davis & Southern Star

  • Harp on Lark: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star Shine Bright in Albany 

    During a famous MTV Unplugged performance, Kurt Cobain once sarcastically asked, “What are they tuning, a harp?” His tone somewhat mocking of the instrument, as if it had no place in his rock n’ roll world. For a long while, I may have thought the same thing too, but then a funny thing happened to me on Thursday, December 7.

    That was the night I saw Mikaela Davis and Southern Star perform at Lark Hall in Albany for the first time. Armed with a six-foot-tall harp, a bold voice, and a certain element of mystique, the classically trained harp player-turned-folk rocker completely redefined everything I thought I knew about the instrument, simultaneously shattering whatever limitations my mind may have placed on it.  

    Mikaela Davis and Souther Star made their Lark Hall debut on December 7th, 2023.

    Captivating the audience with a dreamy blend of psychedelic pop, driving folk rock, and a healthy dose of sonic improvisation, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star simply dazzled in Albany. A long-time believer in the group, Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions has often said this is one of his favorite acts and has been bringing them to the Capital Region for years now. Regularly making stops at venues like The Hollow and Putnum Place, this night would mark their graduation to the historic room of Lark Hall. Delivering a dynamic, genre-bending performance full of emotion, beauty, and star-making energy, it was easy to see what all the hype over the talented harp-playing singer and her incredible band was all about. 

    Originally formed in Rochester, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star have been playing together for over a decade. Notably sharing the stage with the likes of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, Bon Iver, and Circles Around the Sun, the group released their first full-length album as a band, And Southern Star, in August of this year and it’s already showing up on many of the “year’s best” lists. Focusing much of the show on its material, the multi-layered improvisation that also came from it was nothing short of a breath of fresh air and a major reason why they’ve been so warmly embraced by the extended jam band community. 

    Home in the Country: Mikaela Davis and Souther Star made themselves at home in Albany on 12/7/23.

    Casually kicking things off with the melodic one-two punch of “Cinderella” and “In My Groove,” Mikaela Davis and Southern Star had Lark Hall’s undivided attention from the very start. Along with Davis, Southern Star also consists of the McCarthy brothers, Cian on guitar and sax and Shane on bass, Alex Cote on drums, and the talented Kurt Johnson on pedal and lap steel.

    Keeping things going, the infectious single called “Home in the Country” was an early set highlight, as was watching Johnson’s incredible dexterity as he employed a litany of effects and knob turning to his pedal steel rig to create all kinds of subtle textures to accent Davis’s delectate harp in the most sophisticated way.   

    Kurt Johnson of Southern Star had his hands full on pedal and lap steel on 12/7/23.

    After a bit of funky plucking on 2018’s “Get Gone”, “Far From You” would cross over into a more euphoric fairytale-type feel before landing on what would ultimately be the centerpiece of the show, an enchanting and transformative take on the Grateful Dead’s “Here Comes Sunshine.” Showcasing their propensity to improvise just as Garcia and company famously did, the stunning arrangement felt right at home at Lark Hall, a venue that recently expanded to include a Dead-inspired wine and coffee bar downstairs dubbed The Eleven. The lengthy rendition commanded your attention and was enough to win over any of the Heads in the audience who still weren’t sure of the greatness happening before our ears and eyes.   

    Here Comes Sunshine: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star wowed the Lark Hall crowd with their Grateful Dead cover on 12/7/23.

    What started as a chilled-out version of “Leave it Alone” soon boiled over into blues-rock territory before seamlessly finding the opening chords of “Promise,” the second single from And Southern Star. With the crowd fully engaged and swaying to the up-tempo vibe and colorful riffs, the band’s synergy and skill were on full display. As the momentum continued to build, perhaps the most “rockin’” song of the night came next with a jammed-out version of “Don’t Stop Now,” featuring one of multi-instrumentalist Cian McCarthy’s best solos of the night.

    Pausing to thank the audience for coming out and commenting on how nice it was to be playing Lark Hall for the first time, Mikaela then broke the news that she’s already looking forward to coming back in a few months with her pals (and fellow 2023 Lark Hall alumni), Circles Around the Sun.

    Talking from the heart about how special it is to play music live, she also mentioned the best way to directly support touring artists is by picking up some of their merch at the gigs. Davis and Southern Star would then bring the main portion of the show to a close with a beautiful rendition of “Pure Divine Love,” before returning for a luscious encore of “Other Lover” from Mikaela’s debut 2018 album, Delivery.  

    After wrapping up their final show of the year with a hometown throwdown in Rochester, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star already have their sights firmly set on 2024. The band has just announced a full slate of new tour dates alongside psychedelic, Dead-inspired prog jammers Circles Around Sun. The collaborative tour is set to feature several New York dates with stops at Brooklyn Bowl, Ithaca’s Deep Dive, and Buffalo Iron Works.   

    Mikaela Davis | December 7, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY 

    Setlist: Cinderella > In My Groove, Home in the Country, Get Gone, Far From You, Here Comes Sunshine, Leave it Alone > Promise, Don’t Stop Now, Pure Divine Love

    Encore: Other Lover

  • In Focus: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star at Funk ‘n Waffles in Syracuse

    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.  

  • Mikaela Davis and Southern Star End Big Year with Big Hometown Show in Rochester

    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

  • Five Can’t-Miss Shows in Rochester This December

    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.

    December 6: Another Michael at Bug Jar

    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.

    December 7: Howard Levy 4 at Fanatics

    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.

    Tickets are $25 and the show starts at 7pm.

    December 8: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star at Essex

    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.

    Tickets are $30 and the show starts at 7pm.

    December 16: Ember at Bop Shop Records

    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.

    Tickets are $20 and the music gets going at 8pm.

    December 31: moe. at Kodak Center

    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.

  • Hearing Aide: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star

    Harpist Mikaela Davis and her band Southern Star, released their first album as a unit this week. The album, simply called Mikaela Davis and Southern Star, is also her first release in five years and her first on label Kill Rock Stars.

    Mikaela Davis and Southern Star

    The band however, is not new, and most of them have been playing together since before her last album, Delivery was released. Joining Davis’ harp is Alex Cote on drums, who has been friends with Davis, and been playing with her in some way or another, since they went to school together just outside Rochester, NY. From nearby Syracuse, Cian McCarthy plays guitar and his brother Shane picks up bass duties. Rounding out the quintet is Kurt Johnson on pedal steel and guitar, originally hailing from Rochester southern outskirts, he has been a fixture in the city’s music scene, along with Davis and Cote for many years.

    Mikaela Davis and Southern Star, the band, is locally-grown, organically-formed, and grade-A quality. Mikaela Davis and Southern Star, the album, is a superb documentation of their unique and diverse sound that will equally satisfy the hunger of the most ardent fans and those that have yet to get a taste.

    It is rare for a harp to front a rock band, rarer still for a harp to intermingle with a pedal steel. Add in a guitar and bass and Southern Star comes in with a whole lot of strings in tow. It works incredibly well, and provides the band with a lot of versatility.

    The set eases into the listeners ears with the beautiful harp melody in opening track “Cinderella.” With Davis’ voice and Johnson’s moaning pedal steel work joining in shortly after, the unique magic embedded inside is immediately apparent. From there each track adds new and interesting elements into the fold until the palette is revealed in full. It explodes into an extended guitar-led workout on album-closing “Leave It Alone,” before petering into ambient spaciness. But the band isn’t quite ready to call it a day and the jam re-emerges for another couple minutes like a classic album hidden track.

    In between, the album jumps through genres effortlessly. Country rock awash in early 70’s psychedelia moves to pop-tinged folk, languid grooves flip over to muscular choogle. Despite it’s diversity it all comes across as a coherent whole, a satisfying full album listen with a rich and timeless-sounding production that should keep this a regular on the turntable or streams for years to come.

    Key tracks: Saturday Morning, Don’t Stop Now, Leave It Alone

  • In Focus: Mikaela Davis Kicks Off Spring Residency At Funk ‘n Waffles In Syracuse

    A quick walk through Syracuse’s Armory Square on the evening of Thursday, May 4 would have provided an astute listener the sounds to give hope that another winter was behind us.  Conversation drifted from sidewalk tables, birds sang from nearby trees, and the music of Mikaela Davis poured from Syracuse’s Funk ’n Waffles, as the band kicked off their “Here Comes Sunshine” spring residency.  This was the first of three scheduled performances at Funk ‘n Waffles for the band.

    Davis, a native of Rochester, is a classically trained harpist who has toured extensively over the last decade.  She has built the reputation of being one of the brightest rising stars in the music industry.  In 2018 she released her debut solo album, Delivery.  Soon after the release, she joined forces with her backing band Southern Star.  The band, who consist of brothers Shane (bass guitar) and Cian McCarthy (guitar), Alex Cote (drums) and Kurt Johnson (pedal steel, guitar), have compiled an impressive touring resume. They have previously shared the stage with artists such as Bob Weir, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive, and will tour with The Mountain Goats and later this year.  The five members have contributed to the band’s unique and refreshing sound.

    Of late, the band has become known for their seasonal residency concerts;  three concerts over consecutive weeks in the same city.  The concert consists of two sets of music; one set of original music, and a second set of Grateful Dead covers. After selling out many residency shows across New York State this past winter, the band have again returned for a spring slate.  

    Shortly after 8pm the band took to the stage and launched into the groovy “Don’t Stop Now”.  The song’s drum and bass rhythm would soon be joined by the familiar sounds of Davis’s harp plucking and the night would be under way.  The first set would consist of tracks from 2018’s Delivery as well as offerings from the band’s upcoming release And Southern Star.   The songs placed Davis’s talents on full display, with her vocals and signature harp style blending beautifully with the band’s accompaniment.  A highlight of the first set would be the band’s performance of “Far From You”, the the hauntingly beautiful first offering off of And Southern Star.

    After a short intermission, the band would return to the stage for a set consisting entirely of Grateful Dead covers.  The stage, which was draped in bohemian decor, offered a fitting backdrop for the remainder of the evening.  During this portion of the evening, the band’s musical talent’s were really able to shine.  Grateful Dead classics turned in to musical jam sessions, while the near capacity audience filled the area closest to the stage and danced along.  During one jam session, Davis abandoned her seat at the harp, and each band member took a different percussive instrument.  They led the audience on an extended drum solo jam, much to the audiences’ delight.  

    After a brief encore, the band returned to the stage and closed out the evening with their rendition of Grateful Dead’s “Bird Song”.  The combination of Davis’s vocals and harp playing allowed for the classic track to soar to new heights.  The evening’s combination of original music along with Grateful Dead classics make for an evening of must see music.  Be sure to catch the band on one of their upcoming residency shows.  

    Mikaela Davis Residency Shows

    5/8 – Ithaca NY – Deep Dive

    5/9 – Buffalo NY – 9th Ward at Babeville

    5/10 – Albany NY – Parish Public House

    5/11 – Syracuse NY – Funk ‘n Waffles

    5/15 – Rochester NY – Lilac Festival

    5/16 – Buffalo NY – 9th Ward at Babeville

    5/18 – Syracuse NY – Funk ‘n Waffles

    5/19 – Albany NY – Parish Public House

  • Five (plus!) Must-See Shows in Rochester This January

    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.

    January 6: Maybird at Bug Jar

    We recently had hoped 2023 would bring a more active year from these psychedelic rock stalwarts, and voila, here we are with a headlining gig on the first Friday of the year. Josh and Adam Netsky, and Overhand Sam’s layers of sound and ethereal grooves is the kick start your year needs. Pluck and Croix will open the show.

    Show starts at 9pm and tickets are $10/$12 dos

    January 6: Herb Smith Freedom Trio at Three Heads Brewing

    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.

    Show starts at 8pm and tickets are $10.

    January 19: Mikaela Davis, Dead of Winter Residency at Abilene

    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.

    January 21: Homegrown X at Lovin’ Cup

    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.

    Music starts at noon and tickets are $60/$70 dos.

    January 28: Vertices at Flour City Station

    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.