Progressive rock-fusion band TAUK has announced their ‘Oogie Boogie Nights’ Halloween show in Port Chester with a star-studded guest list.
Long Island local rock-fusion band TAUK has been pushing the boundaries of sound for nearly a decade now. With several tours, millions of streams, festival slots spanning from Bonnaroo to Electric Forest, and an array of critical praise, TAUK is an ever-evolving quartet of musical force.
In addition to their purely musical endeavors, the band has begun a new tradition of gathering their favorite musical acts for once-in-a-lifetime halloween shows. Now in its third year, the ‘Oogie Boogie Nights’ Halloween extravaganza is a wild night of live music, good vibes, and all things spooky.
This year’s show goes hand-in-hand with TAUK’s recent streak of collaborative singles with artists like reggae icon Matisyahu, G. Love, Kanika Moore, The Shady Horns of funk group Lettuce, and Taz.
“We’ve been lucky enough to have played the Capitol Theatre a couple times already but being able to come in and throw our own show is something we’ve been dreaming up for a while… We get some of our absolute favorite musicians together and throw a huge party. The lineup for this is unreal and we have so much in store for this show.”
– Matthew Jalbert, guitarist of TAUK
In addition to some of their recent collaborators, TAUK will be bringing Mike Wilbur and Mihali along for the ride, elevating the night’s programming to another level of excitement.
Acting as the only New York date of TAUK’s current United States tour, the ‘Oogie Boogie Nights’ 2024 musical extravaganza will be hosted at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on October 25. Tickets are available now- visit here for further information and ticket purchasing.
Hailing from the UK, Wasia Project has quickly become one of the most exciting indie bands on the rise. The sibling duo Olivia Hardy and William Gao (along with drummer Luca Wade and bassist Tom Pacitti), fuse together jazz, classical, and indie pop, creating a sound that is as soothing as it is emotionally charged. With heartfelt lyrics and lush arrangements, the band has won over a dedicated fanbase both in the UK and overseas.
The Show
On Monday, Sept 30, night one in NYC of the “Isotope Tour” kicked offâ and it did not disappoint. The show began with an atmospheric interlude, “Isotope,” which set the mood for an introspective and emotional night. Wasia Project then launched into “My Lover Is Sleeping”, immediately captivating the crowd with Olivia’s dreamy, tender vocals. The audience was buzzing, absorbing every word, as the band poured their hearts out on stage.
A key standout moment was “Petals on the Moon,” which had the entire venue jamming to William’s piano solo. The duo’s chemistry on stage is undeniable, and their shared musical bond radiated through every track, but especially on “Burning Eyes Are Calling” and “How Can I Pretend,” where Olivia’s emotive voice soared over William’s intricate piano melodies.
“U R So Pretty” was an emotional high point in the set, with its delicate lyrics and vulnerability. The song had the crowd cheering, resonating deeply with everyone in the room. The night’s energy took a shift with “My Vine” and “Cover,” with Olivia’s vocals floating effortlessly over lush instrumentals.
The band’s raw emotion, combined with their experimental soundscapes, made for a captivating debut performance in New York City. If you missed them this time, be sure to catch Wasia Project soon âthey’re just getting started, and their future looks incredibly bright.
Setlist: Isotope (Interlude Intro), Is This What Love Is, My Lover Is Sleeping, U Deserve, Petals on the Moon, How can I pretend, Burning Eyes Are Calling, Takes Me Back Home, Remember When, U R So Pretty, My Vine, Cover, To Get Better, Somebody Come Through, Tell Me Lies
Albany buzzed with excitement from beyond the solar system as Big Something and Consider the Source brought their signature high-octane and other-worldly grooves to Albany on a brisk Wednesday night, October 2, as part of the Headspace 2024 Tour.
Lark Hall, recently revitalized by the set designers of HBO’s The Gilded Age, provided an intimate yet stunning backdrop for the night of sonic exploration and some seriously heady jams.
Ready for Blast-Off: Big Something and Consider the Source bought the Headspace tour to Lark Hall on 10/2/24.
NYC’s Consider the Source kicked off the evening, captivating the audience with their intricate fusion of sci-fi inspired progressive rock, jazz, and world music. The dynamic power trio, comprised of virtuoso guitarist Gabriel Marin, bassist John Ferrara, and drummer Jeff Mann, delivered an exhilarating performance that showcased both their next-level musicianship as well as their entire new album, The Stare, which was released in mid-September. The band had previous played Lark in April of 2022 as part of their intimate acoustic hybrid run, but on this night, it was straight balls-to-the-wall electric.
Bassist John Ferrara, and drummer Jeff Mann performing with Consider the Source in Albany on 10/2/24.
Continuing to push the boundaries of instrumental music with complex time signatures and intricate melodies, songs like “Trial By Stone” and “Mouthbreather” shook the venue to its core with their heaviness, while simultaneously creating a sonic tapestry that was both captivating and challenging to the listener.
From Marin’s expressive and distinctive double-neck guitar playing, to Ferrara’s melodic and thunderous finger-tapping bass solos, to Mann’s exceptionally creative drum fills, Consider the Source was firing on all cylinders at Lark Hall and it showed.
Treating the audience to spellbinding renditions of “Preemptive Vengeance” and “Unfulfilled and Alienated,” the intricate interplay between each member created a cosmic journey that resonated with both the soul and the mind. If you haven’t seen this band play before, you really need to. Helping the audience slip into the perfect headspace for what was still to come, Consider the Source was an excellent choice to kick the party off proper.
Watch fan shot footage of Consider the Source perfomring “Unfulfilled and Alienated” at Lark Hall on 10/2/24.
Transitioning to Big Something’s headlining set with a glorious circus-like introduction by crew member William, the colorful Burlington, North Carolina six-piece band delivered a masterclass in genre-blending with their unique brand of space-infused funk rock. Supporting the release of their ambitious new album, Headspace, the band is currently riding a wave of creativity and evolution.
Consisting of founding members Nick MacDaniels (guitar, vocals) and Jesse Hensley (guitar, vocals), the mesmerizing multi-instrumentalist Casey Cranford on saxophone and electric wind instrument (EWI), alongside the dynamic rhythm section of Ben Vinograd (drums), Matt Laird (bass), and Josh Kagel on keys and trumpet, Big Something have firmly established themselves as tried and true veterans of the jam band scene and a popular staple at music festivals around the country, including their own, The Big What, hosted annually in Mebane, NC.
Big Something made their Lark Hall debut on Wednesday, 10/2/24.
Back in the Capital Region for the first time since playing the Putnum Place in May of 2019, the band wasted no time reminding us they still can throw down with the best of them. Showcasing layers of sonic intricacy, catchy hooks and danceable grooves on the opening combo of “Algorithm” and “Love Generator” form 2014’s Truth Serum, Big Something then surprised everyone by slipping into a cover of “Blast Off” by another fan-favorite funk band, Lettuce.
Nick MacDaniels performing with Big Something at Lark Hall on 10/2/24.
Taking a moment to introduce the band and thank everyone for coming out on a Wednesday, the left-handed MacDaniels, who could be the long-lost brother of actor Michael Cera, hyped up the latest Big Something album, Headspace, before going into its opening track.
Until this point in the show, lead guitarist Jesse Hensley had been relatively reserved, but as “The Mountain” climbed to its peak, so did Jesse, uncorking an absolutely monstrous solo as the band reached its first true stretch of sustained improvisation.
The Curse of Julia Brown: Gabriel Marin of Consider the Source sat in with Big Something on 10/2/24.
Name dropping longtime friends and tour buddies Andy Frasco and The U.N. prior to “Clouds,” a song the two bands collaborated on, Big Something would get some more help from their friends in Consider the Source, inviting out guitarist Gabriel Marin to sit in on 2013’s “The Curse of Julia Brown.” resulting in one of most unique and memorable highlights of the show.
With the buzz in the hall now reaching a fever pitch, Big Something took the vibe even higher, reaching into their back catalog and pulling out their biggest hit to date next, “A Song For Us,” which all but blew the roof off the place. You can watch fan shot footage of that in the clip below.
Watch Big Something perform “A Song For Us” live at Lark Hall on 10/2/24.
Big Something’s performance was a celebration of their growth, with tracks from Headspace seamlessly woven into the fabric of their established hits with songs like “Megalodon” blending beautifully into their cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream.” With the always smiling MacDaniels’ charismatic stage presence igniting the crowd, the synergy between the band members was palpable, as they effortlessly navigated through their setlist, blending styles from jam rock to funk and even hints of reggae and electronic influences.
Big Something’s Casey Cranford plays the EWI 4000 at Lark Hall on 10/2/24.
Stealing the show all night long though was multi-instrumentalist Casey Cranford on saxophone and the electric wind instrument. Running his EWI 4000 through an array of effects pedals, Cranford effortlessly created sounds and textures straight from another dimension.
That should come as no surprise, as the band has long had a fascination with all things extraterrestrial. From their alien-spired logo, to samples referencing U.F.O.’s and crash landings to the stuffed little green man sitting on top of the amps throughout the show, Big Something has crafted a stellar, interstellar sound fit for the future and a galaxy far, far away.
Big Something made their Lark Hall debut on Wednesday, 10/2/24.
Adding depth to the evening was the poignant backdrop of recent flooding in North Carolina, which has forever changed the landscape of the bands home turf and brought an air of solidarity among the musicians and fans. Seemingly using the music as a means to escape, the band never directly referenced Hurricane Helene, but noticeably shied away from playing water-based favorites like “The Undertow,” “Waves,” “Starts to Rain,” and “The Flood.” Instead Big Something would close out the main portion of their set with a big version of the infectious hand-clapper, “Timebomb.”
After a bit of deliberation backstage, the band would return for a final curtain call encore of “Tumbleweed,” the title track from their 2017 album of the same name. Afterwards, the band made sure to let everyone in Albany know how appreciative they are for the support and could be seen hanging out late into the night taking selfies and signing limited edition posters and tour merch.
As the night drew to a close, the concert proved to be more than just a display of talent, but a celebration of the power of music to unite and uplift. Both Big Something and Consider the Source left the stage with the audience buzzing, showcasing that in a world often overshadowed by challenges, the joy of live music continues to shine brightly.
The Headspace Tour continues on through October, and fans in Albany can only hope for a swift return of both bands, where their cosmic sounds will continue to resonate long after the lights go down.
Big Something | October 2, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Intro by William, Algorithm, Love Generator>Blast Off [1] , The Mountain, Clouds, The Curse of Julia Brown [2] , Song For Us, Megalodon>Moonage Daydream [3] , Timebomb.
Encore: Tumbleweed
Notes:
[1] Lettuce
[2] w/ Gabriel Marin (Consider The Source) on guitar
[3] David Bowie
Consider the Source | October 2, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Trial By Stone, I Can See My Eyes, Mouthbreather, New World Čoček, Preemptive Vengeance. Unfulfilled and Alienated.
Jam band God Street Wine has announced a series of five concerts in March, including a date in Woodstock that will be recorded for a live release.
Photo- Geoff Tischman
One of the most prominent acts of the early jam band scene, New York based God Street Wine has been jamming on and off for over twenty six years. Within their first decade as a unit, the group had released five albums and performed over 1,000 shows across the country.
After a nearly decades-long split, the band reunited in 2009 privately to honor the passing of an old friend and later performed a series of shows in New York City benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. With the band spread geographically, releases came sporadically throughout the next few years, including a 25th anniversary box set retrospective and the All The Way To Here documentary film.
Just off of the heels of eight shows in the Summer of 2019, the band faced an unexpectedly lengthy hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. After four years kept apart, God Street Wine was able to reunite in 2023 with two New York shows, this time in benefit of Mission Stadiums for Multiple Sclerosis.
Earlier this year, the group celebrated their first major-label release’s 30th anniversary with digital releases of once-lost tracks and pressed three of their albums on vinyl for the first time ever, punctuated with four sold-out shows in Woodstock, New York City, and Asbury Park in New Jersey.
With countless performances and releases behind them, God Street Wine has decided once more that what they’ve accomplished so far is not all that is in store for the group and their fans. The band has announced five concerts in March of 2025, including a date in New York.
Performing at the historic Bearsville Theater, God Street Wine will be making an appearance in Woodstock on March 15. This performance will wrap the mini-tour, and notably will be recorded for a future Live Release- it’s truly a show to not be missed. Tickets are on sale now- visit here to purchase and learn more.
Phish is, once again, going back to the Garden for their annual New Year’s Eve run. The band will play at MSG from Saturday, December 28th to Tuesday, December 31st. This will bring the running total of Phish shows at the Garden to 87 in all. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, October 11th at Noon ET.
A ticket request period is currently underway at https://tickets.phish.com (ending Monday, October 7th at Noon ET). A limited number of travel packages (hotel + tickets) will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, October 2nd, at Noon ET at https://phishnye.100xhospitality.com. For complete ticketing information, visit https://phish.com/tours.
Phish also has four more upcoming New York State gigs as well, with a three-day benefit run that will take place at Albany’s MVP Arena in late October.
What does the son of an Allman Brothers bassist, a late-60s member of The Grateful Dead, and a studio guitar foil for Dickie Betts have in common?
All are members of Live Dead and Brothers, a group that pays tribute to the golden era of psychedelic blues by alternating covers of Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers material from the days when the Fillmore was still wide open on both coasts.
The band’s all-star lineup featured Les Dudek (guitar) from The Allman Brothers Band, original Grateful Dead pianist Tom Constanten, Berry Duane Oakley (bass, vocals) from The Allman Betts Band, Mark Karan (guitar, vocals) from Bob Weir & Rat Dog, Scott Guberman (keyboards, vocals) from Phil Lesh & Friends, and Pete Lavezzoli (drums, vocals) from Oteil and Friends.
The ensemble formed to revive the magic of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band’s co-billed concerts during the period of 1969 to 1973, and at times, the twin guitar attack made you wonder what kind of supergroup could have been formed had the Dead and the Brothers ever decided to do more than an encore jam together.
The tour, which landed in Albany at Empire Live on Friday, marks the final East Coast run for Tom Constanten, who recently announced his retirement (though he will still compose and play local gigs near his home on the West Coast).
Despite some canceled tour dates due to a health concern earlier this summer, all of the band members looked pretty good. Considering their collective road mileage, the music sounded young and fresh too.
Karan, Oakley Jr, Guberman, and Lavezzoli alternated vocal responsibilities, but it was the dueling guitars of Karan and studio legend Les Dudek that really stole the show. Karan played a Les Paul Goldtop for most of the night, channeling the recently departed Dickie Betts, while Dudek’s custom Strat served as a perfect compliment.
Particularly on the Allman Brothers tunes, where Dudek pulled out his glass slide to play those buttery Duane-leads, the band was firing on all cylinders. And where their vocal harmonies left something to be desired at times, the twin guitar harmonies on songs like “Blue Sky” and “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” was Southern Rock personified.
At times, the two drum approach of both legendary bands was noticeably missing, but Lavezzoli often nailed the swing style of Billy the Drummer, and his impassioned singing on “Stormy Monday” was the best vocal performance of the night. He also crushed his role as Jerry-ballad leader on “High Time”.
Oakley also turned in a yeoman’s performance, holding down the low end and taking lead vocals on songs like “One Way Out”, a superb “Blue Sky”, and “Statesboro Blues”.
While it was the Allmans songs that shined brightest, the group got the heavily tie dyed (alebit modest in size) crowd twirling on a “China>Rider” medley where Karan impressively played both the Weir and Garcia parts.
And if dueling guitars weren’t enough, there were also dueling pianos, or, dueling Nords to be specific. Guberman handled Gregg and Brent-style organ sounds on his Nord Electro 4 and TC did his noodling on a Nord Stage 3. Constanten was erudite as ever with his playful counterpoint lines, though somewhat buried in the mix. That said, the sound in the club was relatively excellent, reminding this listener of what an improvement the Empire Live sound is over the muddy strip mall sound of predecessor clubs Northern Lights and Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park.
View Grateful Dead shows from across the years in New York State with our interactive map below
After a brief intermission, the band’s second set leaned hard on Europe ‘72 numbers by the Dead (including a touching “He’s Gone” which reminded me of TC’s advancing age and the many Brothers and Sisters these road warriors have lost).
But it was the Allman’s instrumental “Jessica” that garnered the biggest crowd reaction of the night. Dudek, who played on the original recording of the track, handled the slide masterfully, and Guberman channeled Chuck Leavell in his best solo of the evening.
“Jessica” has always been a great road song, and was even used as a needle drop in a scene in the movie Field of Dreams when former hippie Ray Kinsella hits the open road in his VW bus. In other words, it makes sense that these longtime sidemen, after years of touring, have their chance to take center stage with a tune that’s helped so many music fans make it down the road another few miles, headed for the next show.
While they weren’t “Truckin’ up to Buffalo” the band did come into Albany from a show in Buffalo on Thursday, and of course they played “Truckin’” too. On a night that was a little short on extended jams save for “The Other One”, and the second-set closer “Elizabeth Reed”, a long coda on “Truckin’” got a little weird and was one of my favorite instrumental moments (particularly when they teased Donovan’s “Mountain Jam” riff).
Hearing “Jessica” and “Truckin’” into “Mountain Jam” was kind of like living out some kind of dream from my youth. I used to alternate a cassette copy of Skeletons in the Closet and The Best of The Allman Brothers’ back in the days when I could only afford to own a few albums and cassettes instead of the basement-full I have now. And in those days I knew every note on those cassettes and played them until one of them got stuck in the deck. Or, maybe my tapes got melted on a hot summer day when the sun ruined my collection, boiling the plastic cases through the hatchback of my 1990 Ford Probe. In short, alternating Allmans and Dead material took me back to a place,and I could tell it took others in the audience even even further back in time. It also made for one heck of a fun night out.
Here’s wishing Tom Constanten well on this last leg of his Long Strange Trip. Live Dead and Brothers has a number of tour dates through mid-October and three more dates in New York State in Bethel, Canandaigua, and Syracuse that are well-worth seeking out if you want to wish TC an East Coast farewell.
Live Dead and Brothers Setlist; Empire Live Albany, 9/27/2024
Set 1: Turn on Your Lovelight, One Way Out, Hurts Me Too, Blue Sky, Bertha, Stormy Monday, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, High Time, Hot Lanta
Set 2: Hard to Handle, Statesboro Blues, Tennessee Jed, Jessica, He’s Gone, Truckin’ (w/outro jam & “Mountain Jam” tease), Spoonful, Dreams, The Other One, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Encore: Ramblin’ Man – Les Dudek on vocals for the only time all night!
On Saturday, September 21, Khruangbin wrapped up the second of two nights at Forest Hills Stadium to a sold out crowd.
Well on their way through a lengthy global tour promoting their new album, A La Sala, Men I Trust warmed up the crowd as they hit the stage at 7pm sharp. With the bar set high and excitement at its peak, the lights went dark as the trio from Houston, Texas hit the stage at 8:15.
Khruangbin, which translates to airplane in thai, takes their audience on a journey playing consecutively through A La Sala. Exploring many themes and motifs with great style and ambiguity, the music, accompanied by choreography, stunning lighting, and set design created a touching spectacle. If it wasn’t already clear that the band is telling a story with A La Sala, the last song of set 1 exemplified this when Mark Steele, Guitar and Vocals, along with Laura Lee, Bass and Vocals, walked down and sat at the very edge of the stage.
With DJ Johnson on Drums and Keys not far behind them, they gently played through “Le Petit Gris”, a soft piano driven melody. Sounds and visuals of thunder and rain trickling down in the windows behind them, a soft breeze that reminded everyone summer is over and fall is here, the band and audience became one.
The second set featured classic material that could make anyone dance. Notable highlights included “The Number 3”, “August 10”, and “Evan Finds The Third Room”. With genre bending sounds of global influence that all seamlessly weave together, their minimalist approach creates soundscapes of deep grooves, catchy hooks, and mesmerizing rhythms. The trios meteoric rise to the top is no coincidence. Playing iconic festivals and venues like Coachella and Bonnaroo, Radio City Music Hall and Red Rocks, they have solidified their position in the music industry.
With Emmanuelle Proulx of Men I Trust joining them for “Dearest Alfred”, they closed out the evening with the funky renditions of “Maria tambien” and “People Everywhere, (Still Alive)”. After the finale, Leezy reemerged from the back, throwing her extra head bands into the crowd, dancing along with the audience to “September” by Earth, Wind, & Fire. Their tour continues for a few select dates in the United States before departing again to resume tour around the world.
Khruangbin – Forest Hills Stadium – September 21st, 2024
Set 1: Fifteen Fifty-Three, May Ninth, Ada Jean, Farolim de Felguerias, Pon Pon, Todavia Viva, Juegos y Nubes, Hold Me Up (Thank You), Caja de la Sala, Three from Two, A Love International, Les Petits Gris Set 2: The Number 3, August 10, Lady and Man, The Infamous Bill, Pelota, Evan Finds the Third Room, Time (You and I) Encore: Dearest Alfred*, Maria tambien, People Everywhere (Still Alive) *with Emma from Men I Trust
The appearances are endless and features over 200 international and local music acts. Eclectic Overdrive is hosting the event and a rebranded Rochester experimental week is back.
The goal of the Avant Garde A Clue and Eclectic Overdrive is to open minds and hearts through the transformative power of music, making it a must-attend event for lovers of avant-garde art.
Among the standout acts is Doom Dogs, an improv supergroup that has innovated their own category of music. Doom Dogs includes guitarist Reeves Gabrels, known for his work with The Cure and David Bowie, master drummer Jonathan Kane from Swans and experimental genius Jair-Rohm Parker Wells.
Renowned percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani from Osaka will showcase his distinctive sound using adapted bowed gongs, drums, and singing bowls while the legendary band, Gong will bring their genre-defying music to the festival highlighting their storied history since forming in a French commune in 1967. Other notable performances include Frank Hurricane who draws inspiration from the mystical landscapes of North Carolina and recently featured on PBS.
Additionally, multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Ahkmad Marin, celebrated for his mastery of diverse musical scales and innovative sound manipulations. Wendy Eisenberg an improviser and songwriter who seamlessly weaves through genres such as jazz to Avant-rock to even delicate sounds. Also, Rushadicus, a cellist provocateur whose performances blend black metal with immersive theater, will take the stage offering an experience that is both hilarious and deeply unsettling.
Admission is free and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Once capacity is reached, the policy is one-in, one-out to ensure everyone has a chance to experience the music.
Ithaca trio Pocket Bandits have announced the release of their sophomore single “Midway” and their debut performance in Buffalo on September 27. Listen to premiere of the track below.
Pocket Bandits, the dynamic instrumental organ trio that emerged on the Central New York music scene in the fall of 2023, release “Midway,” on Friday, September 27. The band also makes their Buffalo debut that evening, hitting the stage at Nietzche’s with award-winning Boston soul singer-songwriter Jill McCracken and Buffalo local artist Sara Elizabeth.
Equal parts light and dark, shiny and grungy, melodious and angular, the new single captures all the intensity and fun of the trio. On the heels of their debut release from the spring of 2024, “The Pocket Bandit,” the progressive funk-fusion trio return with another live show favorite. “Midway” deftly splits the difference between inviting danceability and avant-garde exploration, synthesizing the extremes of the three-piece’s identity into one jubilant track.
The track is captivating to the ears of many genre-enjoyers. “Midway” encapsulates every persona and sound that each member possesses. It is dynamic, powerful and diverse in taste. There’s a little something for everyone here, and this is a staple of Pocket Bandits’ style.
They are a modern twist on the old-school organ trio: the power of a big band in a tiny package. The group is also performing a free hometown show that weekend, on the final day of the Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival, Sunday, September 29 at 4pm on the Dewitt Park Stage.
With “Midway,” Pocket Bandits expand on “The Pocket Bandit” in their grand ambitions for their new collaboration. With more shows and more music on deck as 2024 moves into 2025, Pocket Bandits invite you to hop aboard and follow along for the ride.
Thrilling your senses and filling the dance floor, the trio engage their audiences with melodic, dynamic original compositions, as well as crowd-pleasers by The Beatles, Chappell Roan, Steely Dan, and even the Super Mario Brothers.
For more information on the Pocket Bandits, their new release “Midway” and to purchase tickets to their show in Buffalo, click here.
Phish lead guitarist Trey Anastasio has officially released a new guitar-only instrumental album entitled Atriums via Rubber Jungle Records. The music is culled from years of experimental soundchecks and selections that were played in the public spaces, namely the atrium, at Las Vegas’ Sphere during the band’s recent run there in April. Proceeds from this new release will benefit the Divided Sky Foundation and its newly opened facility in Ludlow, Vermont.
Anastasio and Phish – renowned for creating immersive concert experiences – took full advantage at Sphere, utilizing sculptures, light and sound to transform the hallways of the futuristic venue. Those ambient soundscapes are now released as ATRIUMS. The six-track album doesn’t feature any strange song names but the music is far from ordinary and each one is approximately 15 minutes in length and offers a unique sonic composition consisting primarily of droning loops, echoes, and waves of tonal feedback layered with gentle, melodic fretwork.
“Atrium 1” features some harrowing, echoey guitar effects interspersed with brief moments of digital feedback. Whereas “Atrium 3” has a more blissful demeanor with simple, repetitive melodies on a loop, not too dissimilar from how the band’s “secret” third set at Mondegreen started where they played behind a screen of accompanying visuals instead of in front of one like Sphere. See below for all selections from the recently released Atriums.
In addition to this album, Phish also recently announced a special three-day run of shows in Albany, NY at MVP Arena that will also serve as a benefit to the Divided Sky Foundation. A limited amount of tickets can still be found on tickemaster.com.
