This weekend in Albany, Ophelia’s on Broadway welcomes Ryan Dempsey and Frends for two musical nights of jam-packed jam band members. The Twiddle keyboardist will be leading a cavalcade of stars on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20.
On April 19, Dempsey welcomes Mike Gantzer from Aqueous, Vinnie Amico of moe., Joshua West of Annie in the Water, Billy Stark on Bass, as well as a few surprise guests.
Saturday April 20 finds Frends Vinnie Amico of moe., Billy Stark on bass, Scotty Somerville from Late Shift, Hayley Jane on vocals, Al Schnier of moe., and host Ryan Dempsey.
Tickets are available here for Friday and here for Saturday.
Big Something, a well-established group in the Jam Band scene, brought their good time grooves and uplifting vibes to Buffalo Iron Works on April 12.
For me, seeing a Big Something show has always been an uplifting experience, and this show was no exception. Right from the start, the energy from the band to the crowd, and vice versa could be felt immediately. And if watching Nick MacDaniels jump and bounce around while playing doesn’t put a smile on your face I don’t know what to say.
This show was not a show to miss. From the first song to the last the band was on fire pulling out old favorites and I’m sure new favorites, while flawlessly pulling off a few covers. This is a not to miss band if you have an opportunity to catch them.
Big Something – Buffalo Iron Works – April 12, 2024
Set 1: Waves, Tumbleweed, Fearless (Pink Floyd), Clouds, Algorithm, Sundown Nomad Set 2: Capt D, Bob and Weave, Head ON / Pill (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard), The Mountain, Evil Josh, Song For Us, Plug Encore: The Flood
Count Blastula, a funk/jam band from Syracuse have been well over 15 years in the making, and now the group has landed on a killer lineup that is really turning up the heat.
Count Blastula
Count Blastula is characterized by a funky, groovy, get-up-and-move style of jamming. They perform enticing originals and covers combined with a dose of magic that propels the group into serious jamming territory. The band brings their talent everywhere from large festivals and theater shows to private events and intimate local bar gigs. Count Blastula bring their own brand of top-shelf homegrown music to events of all shapes and sizes.
The group displays a diverse full soundscape via a multitude of instruments that can be heard on any given tune, along with a dynamic, and ever-changing flow of rhythms, tones, and arrangements of sounds. Each song by Count Blastula encompasses a unique number of changes and musical movements.
The current band consists of five members: Adam Fisher on guitar/vocals, Jeremy Walts on bass/vocals, Mike Dâambrosio on keys, and Dave Schlossberg and Dave Donley on percussion. When the group tours, they may add a few others like a saxophonist, or other various instruments.
The group has released five unique EPs over the last 12 years. Their music is very much inspired by a wide variety of genres. Funk, rock, jam band, jazz, hip hop, country and more are heard throughout the tunes. You can hear inspiration from Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band, Charlie Daniels, and Phish from the music.
Upcoming 2024 Count Blastula Shows
APR 19 FRI
Kwartet @The Fitz @ 8:30pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
APR 20 SAT
Trio with Special Guest Mike Dubaniewicz | LIVE @ Oswego Music Hall @ 6:00pm
Oswego, NY, United States
APR 27 SAT
443 Social Club Syracuse NY @ 7:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
MAY 4 SAT
Trio + Edgar Pagán @ Maplewood Bar and Grill @ 1:00pm
Liverpool, NY, United States
MAY 11 SAT
Shiftys @ 8:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
MAY 24 FRI
LIVE @ Sterling Stage FolkFest 2024 @ 8:00pm
Sterling Valley, NY, United States
JUN 14 FRI
LIVE @ Moondog’s Lounge | Auburn, NY | 7-10PM @ 7:00pm
Auburn, NY, United States
JUN 21 FRI
LIVE @ Estival Festival @ 10:00pm
Caneadea, NY, United States
JUN 23 SUN
Kwartet Rochester Private party @ 4:00pm
New York, NY, United States
JUN 26 WED
duo @Stout Brewery @ 7:00pm
Salina, NY, United States
JUN 28 FRI
Kwartet @ The Fitz @ 8:30pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
JUN 29 SAT
Trio | Private Event @ 4:00pm
Tully, NY, United States
JUL 13 SAT
Private party @ 5:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
JUL 19 FRI
Light the hotdog sessions at Guilded Club @ 7:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
JUL 20 SAT
with Edgar Pagan @ Critz Farms @ 5:00pm
Cazenovia, NY, United States
AUG 3 SAT
Blueberry jam Critz Farms @ 1:00pm
Cazenovia, NY, United States
AUG 10 SAT
LIVE @ Glen Fest 24 | The Glen Haven, Homer, NY @ 8:00pm
Homer, NY, United States
AUG 11 SUN
Middle Ages loading dock @ 4:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
AUG 17 SAT
Average Joes JamBand night Baldwinsville NY @ 8:00pm
Baldwinsville, NY, United States
AUG 23 FRI
Live @ Shiftys @ 8:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
AUG 24 SAT
Critz Farms @ 5:00pm
Cazenovia, NY, United States
SEP 6 FRI
LIVE @ Moondog’s Lounge | Auburn, NY | 7-10PM @ 7:00pm
Auburn, NY, United States
SEP 20 FRI
Kwartet @ The Fitz @ 8:30pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
SEP 27 FRI
Light the hotdog sessions at Gilded Club @ 7:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
OCT 11 FRI
Light the hotdog sessions at Gilded Club @ 7:00pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
NOV 8 FRI
LIVE @ Moondog’s Lounge | Auburn, NY | 7-10PM @ 7:00pm
Auburn, NY, United States
NOV 15 FRI
Kwartet @ The Fitz @ 8:30pm
Syracuse, NY, United States
For more information on the band and their upcoming shows, click here.
Brass Power House group Too Many Zooz returned to the scene where it all began on Saturday, April 6 as the trio concluded their self titled album tour in epic fashion.
Retail Therapy is the band’s first album in almost five years, and we had the opportunity to ask one of the bands founding members, Matt Muirhead, about their new album, life for a band that’s been together for 10 years, and what’s next for the acclaimed trio.
The album came together more than a year ago now…generally I think our goal was just to create as much as possible, and then spend the following months trimming the fat and deciding what we wanted to keep and sculpt out, and what to get rid of.
Matt Muirhead, Too Many Zooz
Songs like “Subway Devil Blues” off their latest work and their previously released “Subway Gawds,” the roots of Too Many Zooz can be traced 10 years back to the bustling music scene in the NYC transit system, they all met as working musicians in the subway system. Despite their continued success, the band’s iconic brass and beats sound can still be heard echoing through the tunnels as they busk regularly to this day.
The subway is where we came from. It shaped our music and us as people equally. We’re very grateful for the people of New York for loving us and supporting us to this day.
Matt Muirhead, Too Many Zooz
The band consists of Leo Pellegrino, David “The King of Sludge” Parks, and Matt Muirhead. They self describe their sound as “brasshouse”, and appropriately so. Leo and Matt bring brass of varying tempos while The King of Sludge provides the perpetual beat. The vibe transcends labels as it encorporates a fusion of jazz and percussion with EDM house music. Asking about their songwriting style and process, Matt said the following:
There isn’t a set formula for us-every song is different and how they come to fruition is seemingly unique each time. Of course, over the years you start to develop habits as writers, but we try to approach each song as its own and give it the love and energy it deserves.
Matt Muirhead, Too Many Zooz
The evening at Brooklyn Bowl opened with a strong solo performance by Michael Wilbur, a long time collaborator and frequent guest star. Joining TMZ shortly after his own set, Michael was featured on Retail Therapy, and he has toured alongside them with his own band, Moon Hooch. Michael was not the only guest of the evening, as the band brought out a dynamic percussion duo that brought the evening to a whole new level.
…for me, collaboration is the thing that excites me most about the creation process…. there’s nothing more dismal than sitting in a studio by yourself . Collaborations are such a special and beautiful thing and each one is new and different so for me, I was thrilled to be able to have so many friends on the project.
Even within Too Many Zooz internally, I think what makes our bands sound so unique is the inherent creative collaboration between just the 3 of us- we all have different backgrounds and experiences and we believe in a musical democracy where those sources of inspiration can intertwine, sprout, and grow into something beautiful.
Matt Muirhead, Too Many Zooz
Too Many Zooz went viral in 2014 when a passerby recorded their performance at Union Square Station. Whether it’s their distinguishable sound, or Leo P’s classic showmanship, its clear that they have captured the publics attention, converting viewers into passionate fans. They regularly tour around the country, in the festival circuit, and play abroad. From inside the subways, to venues to around the world, their connection to the fans is undeniable.
I love our fans and am endlessly grateful for them and their support. It blows my mind sometimes how lucky we are to have such loyal fans that continue to show love all these years later. On stage, our connection is immediate . We’re definitely a band that feeds off of energy. If the crowd is crazy, the show will probably be that much crazier. Off stage, we’ve been fortunate to meet some really cool, funny, interesting people who happen to be fans of us and generally speaking I feel confident in saying that our crowds are some of the more accepting, welcoming, and warm people I’ve ever had the chance to play for
Matt Muirhead, Too Many Zooz
Being on the road and playing music together for so long, life and art are bound to blend together. When asked about what their biggest challenge as a band was, Matt reflected “This band as been an enormous learning experience in regards to working with people and truly understand teamwork.”
I was a kid when we started this band and I look back and laugh at who I was. Next to my parents and loved ones, I’ve learned more about myself and who I want to be from Leo and Sludge than anyone in my life. They have been and continue to be monumental sources of inspiration to me on and off stage
Matt Muirhead, Too Many Zooz
Retail Therapy is out now and is available for streaming. For fans who missed out on their tour, you can catch them this summer as they join Coheed & Cambria and Primus on select dates this summer. Tickets are on sale now.
Lotus brought along Blendmode to open up their Capitol Theatre show on Saturday, April 6, along with Eli Winderman from Dopapod & Jonathon Grusauskas of lespecial.
Blendmode really go the night going with their unique, bass heavy, danceable groove.
Lotus played a special show featuring guitar dueling between Tim Palmieiri & Johnny from lespecial. Winderman fit in well adding his unique synth sound to the Lotus soundscape. The set was filled with groovy jams and some face melting solos. The second set included a memorable Radiohead cover, “Airbag.”
Lotus – Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – April 6, 2024
Set 1: Middle Road, Expired Slang, Tar Pits, Marquee Moon, Debris, Shimmer and Out
Set 2: Opus, Reed, It’s All Clear to Me Now, Flower Sermon, Airbag, Wax
As Phish prepares for four sold-out shows at the new Sphere in Las Vegas next week, they’ve released the first glimpse of their new upcoming album. “Evolve” is the title track of the new studio production which is set to come out July 12 on JEMP Records. This comes right before a summer tour that starts one week later in Mansfield, MA and includes three nights at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in August.
Evolve will be the first new studio album for Phish in more than four years and marks the band’s 16th one overall. The title track, which can be heard below, has been found on set lists as far back as 2021 so it’s certainly not a new number and one the band has crafted to their liking by now.
This summer will also see Phish play at Uncasville, CT’s Mohegan Sun Arena (July 23-24), East Troy, WI’s Alpine Valley Music Theatre (July 26-28), St. Louis, MO’s Chaifetz Arena (July 30-31), Noblesville, IN’s Ruoff Music Center (August 2-4), and Grand Rapids, MI’s Van Andel Arena (August 6-7).
Listen to Phish “Evolve” below.
This all leads up to three shows at the historic Bethel Woods Center for the Arts from August 9-11. It will be the band’s first three-show run at Bethel following their initial four-night stay in 2011 and two shows in 2022. The tour then culminates with Phish’s traditional Labor Day Weekend run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO. See below for the full listing of summer shows.
This summer will see also Phish hosting Mondegreen, a four-day festival set for August 15-18 at The Woodlands in Dover, DE. It will be the band’s 11th self-produced festival and the first one in nine years. Phish is set to perform over four days and nights, alongside an array of interactive fan experiences, specially curated regional food and drink, and art installations. Limited tickets remain available for most dates. For complete details and ticket availability, please visit phish.com/tours.
Phish 2024 Summer Tour
JULY
19 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
20 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
21 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena (SOLD OUT)
24 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena (SOLD OUT)
26 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Music Valley Music Theatre
27 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Music Valley Music Theatre
28 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Music Valley Music Theatre
30 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
31 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
AUGUST
2 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
3 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
4 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
7 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
9 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
10 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
11 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
15 – The Woodlands, Dover, DE – Mondegreen
16 – The Woodlands, Dover, DE – Mondegreen
17 – The Woodlands, Dover, DE – Mondegreen
18 – The Woodlands, Dover, DE – Mondegreen
29 – Commerce City, CO – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
30 – Commerce City, CO – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
31 – Commerce City, CO – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
SEPTEMBER
1 – Commerce City, CO – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Uncle Ebenezer played an incredible set of Phish jams including an unforgettable “Tweezer” featuring a saxophone player. Walrus opened up the night with their psychedelic interpretation of The Beatles, most notably a fully mind melting “Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds”.
The Williams Center is a phenomenal venue in Rutherford, NJ. It is an old theatre renovated into a truly happening venue featuring hidden gems like a record store with some incredible selections.
Uncle Ebenezer opened up the night with my personal favorite Phish song “Golgi Apparatus”. This got the crowd going and ready to dance to “Gotta Jibboo” which followed. The set was filled with Phan favorites like “No Me in No Men’s Land”, “Fluffhead”, “The Lizards”, and even included vocal heavy songs like “My Mind’s Got a Mind of It’s Own” and “Tela”. The epic “Tweezer” with a sax player was truly legendary.
They ended their set with a funky, spacey “2001”. The encore include “Cavern”, “Lonesome Cowboy Bill”, and the return of the sax for an explosive “Tweezer Reprise.”
Setlist: Golgi Apparatus, Gotta Jibboo, Stash, My Mind’s Got a Mind of Its Own, Tweezer, The Lizards, Tela, No Men in No Man’s Land, Split Open and Melt, Fluffhead, 2001
On June 29, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio will perform with The Boston Pops at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. The performance will feature Anastasio performing solo work and orchestral compositions, amid the atmosphere of the Berkshire Mountains.
Part of the Popular Artist Series, Anastasio will perform with the Boston Pops – conducted by Edwin Outwater – at the Koussevitzky Music Shed, in Lenox, MA on Saturday, June 29, at 7pm.
Anastasio had been set to perform with the Boston Pops in 2020, but the event was one of the many live music performances canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Performing along with a string section, a Rescue Squad or a philharmonic, Anastasio has taken his orchestration talents to a wider audience, melding compositions for rock and guitar along with an orchestra. Since 2000, Anastasio has performed with string groups, and the Tanglewood show is his second of this summer, having announced a July date with the National Symphony Orchestra in Vienna, VA.
photo by Conor McMahon
Tickets for Trey Anastasio and the Boston Pops at Tanglewood will go on sale Wednesday, April 17 at 10am at Trey.com.
Just eleven days after the release of their fifth studio album, Hoist, Phish arrived in Binghamton for a show at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, just down the road from the Broome County Forum. The show quickly became known among fans for a funk-filled soundcheck, as well as creative placement of “Little Drummer Boy” throughout the second set.
Students from colleges across the state – Cornell, Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton among them – headed down to Binghamton on this evening, making for a lively lot scene. The marquee reportedly read “Reba McEntire” with “Phish – Sold Out” below it, perhaps the muse for “Reba” showing up in the second set this evening.
The soundcheck of “Makisupa Policeman” was indeed funky, although a full recording has yet to surface. All that we have so far is the clip below.
A reported “really difficult ticket,” Binghamton is no stranger to great Phish shows, with an early show at Campus Pub in 1988 and two shows at Broome County Forum in 1992. This 1994 show would unknowingly be the band’s penultimate show in The Parlor City, with only the notable December 14, 1995 show following, leaving Binghamton Phish-less for nearly 30 years – aside from two Trey Anastasio Band shows in 1999 and 2014.
A venue upgrade, this would be Phish’s first show at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, a minor league hockey arena, just down the road from the Forum. Opening up with “Magilla” for the first time, the GA show would hold a few songs that are ‘jamcharts‘ worthy, as well as some fun with “Little Drummer Boy” during the second set.
A pre-chant version of “Wilson” would follow this horns-less “Magilla,” a unique listen now after nearly three decades of fans chanting “Willllll-son” with each intro guitar riff. “Rift” would be met with great cheers in a typical early Set 1 slot, doubling as the title of the band’s prior album to Hoist.
“Bathtub Gin” would feature notable improv, giving way to “Nellie Kane” and the first track of the night off Hoist, a ripping “Julius,” also the first track on Hoist. “Fee” featured a piano outro from Page McConnell that bridged the way into the now ultra rare “All Things Reconsidered,” last played in 1997 and deserving of a return to the Phish rotation. The “Stash” that would follow is not one to sleep on, featuring ‘a gnarly and heavy-duty power rocking jam’ that paved the way for “The Squirming Coil” and set break.
Set two would open with another Hoist track, “Sample in a Jar,” to a brief crowd reaction. A hefty “Reba” that is well executed gives way to the Frank Zappa composition “Peaches en Regalia,” pairing Zappa-esque with a true Zappa tune, with an ending that featured a tease of “Little Drummer Boy” before shifting into the now-retired “Big Ball Jam.”
The debut of “Demand” would follow, and while a “Split Open and Melt” jam akin to the Hoist version was not paired with the short song, it did serve as a perfect bridge to “Mike’s Song.” This version of “Mike’s” finds Trey Anastasio using his pedals to create other-worldly sounds that are at times menacing and metallic, accented by LD Chris Kuroda’s strobes flashing through on-stage fog. A breather would be needed in the “I am Hydrogen” that followed, particularly because “Weekapaug Groove” would be chock full of teases – “Little Drummer Boy,” a latter portion of “Divided Sky” and even “Dave’s Energy Guide.”
Closing out this fun filled set were a calming “Tela,” “Slave to the Traffic Light” which featured a serene build and an outstanding peak, capped off by a well placed “Cavern.” For an encore, the band would start without microphones for an acapella rendition of “Amazing Grace,” followed by “Highway to Hell” – likely not exactly what the fans in the front row were looking for when they were chanting for “AC/DC Bag,” but a heck of a cover to drop on fans just as the show was coming to a close.
Listen to the show from Binghamton here (second set SBD). Phish would head west the next night to perform at Alumni Arena at SUNY Buffalo – stream that show here.
Set 1: Magilla, Wilson > Rift, Bathtub Gin > Nellie Kane > Julius, Fee -> All Things Reconsidered, Stash, The Squirming Coil Set 2: Sample in a Jar, Reba, Peaches en Regalia > Big Ball Jam, Demand[1] > Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove[2], Tela > Slave to the Traffic Light, Cavern Encore: Amazing Grace, Highway to Hell [1] Debut [2] Vocal jam
Welcome Cotter! The t-shirts and banners in the crowd at Sunday night’s Goose show echoed the band’s excitement to unveil their new drummer to a sold out Capitol Theatre. It was apparent throughout the show that the band believes Cotter is the perfect fit – the hype did not disappoint. Peter reminded the crowd that “you only get to play your first show once.” What a first show for the new Goose drummer and Goose 2.0!
“Flopener” was a heavy favorite in the comment section for the opener and it made sense. Energy right out of the gate into a “Rockdale” showcased Cotters’ heavy rhythmic additions. One could not help realizing during the slow parts of “Seekers” that Ben was gone, but a little nostalgia did not get in the way of a truly rocking first set that showcased two new funky songs that will surely stay in the rotation.
Other than Cotter, two things were apparent: 1) Rick’s new tone with his new setup is fantastic and he is ready for an amazing year and 2) Trevor is way turned up in the mix in the best way. The second set “Pancakes” was probably the jam of the night and the Cap crowd responded. This is going to be a special four-night run- we are so lucky Goose couldn’t wait to show us how much they have been working since Hampton.
Scott Mendelsohn scores a miracle Goose ticket minutes before doors open at the Capitol TheatreA Goose fan displays his “Welcome Cotter” T-shirt outside the Capitol Theatre
Goose Captiol Theatre – Port Chester, NY 4/7/24
Set I: Flodown, Rockdale, Drive, Seekers on the Ridge pt.I, Seekers on the Ridge pt. II, Hot Love & Lazy Poet (live debut by Goose), Salt (live debut by Goose)
Set II: Eminence Front (The Who cover), Pancakes, Creatures, Everything Must Go, This Old Sea, Factory Fiction
E: Yeti
Peter hits the stage wearing a Pearl Jam T-shirtGoose fans wait outside the Capitol Theatre Peter hits the stage wearing a Pearl Jam T-shirt
