Ned Evett, a pioneer in the world of fretless guitarists, makes his return to upstate New York for the first time in over two decades this August.
Evett kicks off a string of live performances with a live concert at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, on August 6. Immediately following, is his show at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery on August 7. Evett finishes off his New York stops with a live show at the Spirit Room in Rochester.
Over the last two decades, Ned Evett has cemented himself as an influential figure in the world of guitar players. In the early 1990s, Evett smashed his guitar after playing a show and handcrafted his own fretless guitar. Since then, Evett has mastered the style of fretless playing, which requires an immense understanding of the instrument’s sound and impeccable perfect pitch.
During his career, Evett has performed in over 30 countries with hundreds of touring artists, including Joe Satriani, Leon Russell, Kansas, Eric Johnson, George Thorogood, and John Scofield. Despite his extensive touring history, he has not made a return to upstate New York in over two decades. His name might be familiar to longtime guitar fans in the region, though. In 2003, Evett won the North American Rock Guitar Competition at the University of Buffalo. Since then, Evett has received massive critical acclaim. Described by Guitar Player magazine as “the world’s first fretless guitar rockstar” and dubbed “the king of the glass-necked guitar” by USA Today, Evett is the inventor of the glass-necked fretless guitar and the glass slide capo.
Evett will perform in a trio, with Rochester-based Steve Imburgia on drums and percussion and Brian Barr on bass for the New York shows. He will perform songs from his forthcoming record, Strange Kind of Freedom, which is set to release on November 8, as well as several fan favorites from his 12 prior solo releases.
Information for the New York shows are listed below.
Aug. 7 — Buffalo @ The Lounge at Revolution Gallery tickets: free doors: 5:30 p.m. show: 6 p.m. start address: 1419 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
Aug. 8 — Rochester @ The Spirit Room doors: 7 p.m. show: 8:30-10:30 p.m. address: 139 State St., Rochester, NY 14614
8/2 Friday Syracuse NY Funky Town Comics & Vinyl 8/6 Tuesday Syracuse NY The Lounge at Revolution Gallery 8/7 Wednesday Buffalo NY Iron Works 8/8 Thursday Rochester NY The Spirit Room 11/8 Friday Okinawa Japan Kadena Festival 11/14 Thursday San Pedro CA Alvas Showroom 11/16 Saturday Mill Valley CA Sweetwater Saloon 11/23 Saturday Boise ID Sapphire Room
Any additional information and tickets are available on Ned Evett’s website linked here.
A night of country music at Artpark amphitheater, Orville Peck, accompanied by the Goldie Boutilier and The War And Treaty, graced the stage on July 1. Where everyone felt like an outlaw cowboy for the night.
Orville Peck
Goldie Boutilier, a Canadian singer-songwriter, started the evening as one of the two opening acts for the night. Goldie has a unique sound blends country and a hint of Americana with alternative music. Although this may not seem like a good combination, Goldie can pull it off and stand out from the rest of the genre. She sang all her hits on her set, from Body Heat and The Actress to her most famous song, Cowboy Gangster Politician. From the moment she took the stage, She had the crowd on her side.
Goldie Boutilier
The second opener of the night was The War And Treaty, a husband-and-wife duo of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount. Michael and Tanya were so much fun to watch perform. Seeing them be silly with each other while performing was refreshing and cute. The duo brought so much soul into their set that you felt every lyric they sang. They performed Hey Driver, a Zach Bryan song that they are featured on. After these amazing openers, the crowd was ready for the main act.
Orville Peck took the stage as the sun set, bringing a contagious energy from when he appeared. He had a fantastic stage presence and kept the crowd entertained from start to finish. One thing that stood out was his gesture of giving roses to people in the crowd who caught his attention, whether it was for their outfits or for singing and dancing during the set. It was a friendly reminder that he was genuinely engaged with the crowd and noticed everything.
The War And Treaty, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount
Peck performed songs from his previous albums, Pony and Bronco, as well as his latest album Stampede. A highlight of his performance was covering “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” a song he had previously recorded with Willie Nelson.
By the end of the night, I truly felt like an outlaw cowboy with the amount of country music I’d listened to. I’m not a huge country fan, but truthfully, by the end of the night, all three of these artists may have turned a new leaf for me. I’m starting to like country music just a little bit more than before.
Orville Peck setlist: Big Sky, Turn to Hate, Roses Are Falling, The Hurtinâ Kind, Câmon Baby, Cry, No Glory in the West, Hexie Mountains, How Far Will We Take It?, Conquer the Heart, Drive Me, Crazy, Blush, The Curse of the Blackened Eye, Lafayette, Any Turn, Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other (Willie Nelson cover), Outta Time, Kalahari Down, Dead of Night, Daytona Sand Encore: Bronco
Westside Gunn keeps making wrestling cool again. The FlyGod made an appearance on All Elite Wrestling Collision at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center. The episode — taped on Wednesday but aired this past Saturday night — saw WSG come out in support of Swerve Strickland, iced out and decked in a print of the AEW world champion’s bloody face from his wrestling inspired Fourth Rope brand. The Buffalo native served as part of Strickland’s corner during his weigh-in with Will Ospreay ahead of their heavyweight title bout at AEW Forbidden Door on Monday night at UBS Arena.
Westside Gunn came out to a big pop on AEW Collision. Photo: X/@wwerealone
However, despite coming out to a big pop from the hometown crowd, it wasn’t a happy ending for FlyGod and crew as their pal Swerve Strickland was laid-out by Will Ospreay in a “scuffle” that saw Westside and friends quickly escorted from the ring stage.
AEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Swerve Shows up like a boss. The feeling swerve gives off is wild he really is one of the best champs i ever seen.
— Forbidden Door PodCast (@ForbiddenDoor_) June 30, 2024
A longtime wrestling fan — with countless song tittles named in ode to his favorites — Westside Gunn remains a familiar presence in AEW universe making appearances at several live shows and ppv’s. The cultural curator has gone on to create his own wrestling inspired brand– Fourth Rope. Despite his success outside of the booth fans remain vigilant on new Westside Gunn music with his last project being October, 2023’s And Then You Pray For Me.
It takes hours of tireless work to become an overnight success. Word to the wise: it takes 10 years for anyone to truly begin to see results. Nobody exemplifies this more than Buffalo’s first poet laureate, Jillian Hanesworth. Recently, she won an Emmy for her poetic efforts in conjunction with the Buffalo Bills.
Augustus Clarke and Jillian Hanesworth pose with their 2024 Sports Emmy received at Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City [Marc Bryan-Brown Photography]
Before she began working with the Bills, Hanesworth poured in countless hours to conquer the struggle and pursue her truth. Born and raised in Buffalo – Hanesworth grew up within an artistic community where all walks of life embodied their roles to preserve art for generations to come.
The way that Hanesworth approaches art provides a refreshingly humble perspective. In the grand scheme of things, she views herself as a voice not the voice. Her voice is important, insofar, as it amplifies the voices of those around her, as well.
“You don’t have to be a known artist to be an artist.”
-Jillian Hanesworth
Perhaps, this humility and sacrifice toward her craft is the reason why more people are starting to hear about this phenomenal woman. Her firm dedication to uplifting those in need of knowledge without feeling any sense of entitlement strikes the perfect balance for this creative artist.
Purpose Plus Passion
Hanesworth’s multilayered approach to art, activism and advocacy make her an incredible social change agent. She reimagines justice with poetry and timely demonstrations – she does not wear a crown or sit on a high horse – she sees these actions as the service she owes to her community.
Hanesworth proves that the art of traditional storytelling is so important. Hanesworth shares her story so well as an artist. Buffalo’s first poet laureate and a familiar face for those suffering from Buffalo tragedies – Hanesworth set out to make a difference in her community.
As the founder of Literary Freedom she hosted pop-up bookstores in conjunction with her Buffalo Books program. Initially, she set out on a mission in Buffalo to increase the literacy rate for young scholars within her community.
She put a plan in place and aimed to raise $10K to reinvigorate 10 libraries. Shortly after she launched a GoFundMe, KeyBank in Buffalo met her fundraising goal to revamp selected libraries in Buffalo by putting local artwork on the walls and local authors on the shelves.
Grind Don’t Stop
As she put her nose to the grindstone and continued to do the Lord’s work – people began to notice her efforts. Shortly after the racially motivated shooting at Tops in Buffalo, the Bills asked Hanesworth if she could create something to help the people heal.
As life goes on, Hanesworth continues to find herself in situations to infuse lasting change. Those who set out to achieve something greater than themselves will ultimately find reward. From the jump, this woman set her sights on community literacy improvement and from there she has worked with several notable organizations who have given her a vehicle to move her message.
Hanesworth stepped into the artistic space with the right mentality and made moves according to her mission. Once people start to gravitate toward your art, it is not just about you anymore. Once your art and story arc take on a life of its own, you must ensure that you continue to double down on the reasons why you started.
On Friday, June 21, Buffalo-based alt-folk artist Evan Anstey released his latest EP, Alternates II. As the second installment of Anstey’s “Alternates” series, this EP explores a wide range of genres and musical styles. With Alternates II, audiences can expect an awesome mix of hard rock, techno, and of course, a bit of bluegrass.
Debuting in 2016 with his EP Recent Time, Evan Anstey has played a role in the Western New York music scene. Born and raised in the area, Anstey began playing music at the age of 8. As he grew older, he began writing and performing his own music, both as a solo and group artist. Anstey co-founded, played guitar, and sang with rock bands Arrowdrive and The Moon Hunters. Since he was 17, Evan has served as a vocalist, guitarist, and occasional bassist in the indie-prog outfit Meat Raffle.
Evan Anstey’s alt-folk sound draws inspiration ranging from classic artists like Flatt & Scruggs to the progressive bluegrass of Nickel Creek and modern folk stylings of Aoife O’Donovan, John Paul White and Declan O’Rourke. His last EP, Alternates I, stayed true to his inspirations in folk and indie music. The instrumentation of the EP was mostly acoustic. However, its sequel is quite different.
For years, Evan Anstey gained traction as a folk artist. But with this EP, Anstey explored elements of other genres like hard rock and techno. The blend of these genres may come as a surprise to some, but the experimentation had been expertly handled. Like his last album, however, each track was a creative retelling of past songs he had performed live or co-wrote with his other groups. Anstey had the help of guest musicians to fully compose his vision.
Anstey played various instruments on Alternates II, including guitar, violin, bass, mandolin, keyboards, and ukulele. Guests artists Darryl Tonemah, LP Tonemah, Kris Brayley, Ernest “E.C.” Palmer, Alex Feig, and James Robert Kibby all feature on the six-track EP, each providing their own instrumentation and elements to the work.
I wanted to step out of the box on this one. Plans changed along the way, but that’s one of my favorite parts about making a record — the fluidity of art.
Evan Anstey
Alternates II is available on all streaming and download platforms. For more information on Evan Anstey, visit here.
On a balmy summer evening in Buffalo, the KeyBank Center buzzed with anticipation as legendary acts Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire took the stage for a night of soulful melodies and electrifying performances.
The show, a close sellout, drew fans from across the region from Toronto to Rochester, eager to witness two iconic bands in one unforgettable concert experience. There was a countdown clock on the stage video screen telling fans when the show would kickoff.
Earth, Wind & Fire, no strangers to the Buffalo area (last played Buffalo area at Artpark in 2022), kicked off the evening with an explosive energy that instantly captivated the audience. Opening with their timeless hit “Shining Star,” the band set the tone with their trademark blend of funk, soul, and R&B.
The crowd erupted in cheers as they seamlessly transitioned into “Let Your Feelings Show,” showcasing their impeccable musicianship and infectious groove. Their set was a celebration of musical mastery, with intricate horn arrangements, tight percussion, and the soulful vocals that have defined their legacy over decades. They played all of their fan favorites, “Boogie Wonderland”, “Sing a Song”, and closed with their big hit “September”.
After Earth, Wind & Fire left the stage to thunderous applause, the anticipation for Lionel Richie reached its peak when the lights blacked out and a montage video hit the screens. Richie, returning to the Buffalo area for the first time since his memorable performance in Niagara Falls in August 2022, began his set with the iconic ballad “Hello.”
The audience swayed in unison, singing along to every word, as Richie’s smooth voice filled the arena with nostalgia and emotion. One of his most energetic songs he played was his second song of the show, “Running with the night”. Digital cityscapes were displayed on the background video screens and the use of smoke blasts caught some fans by surprise.
Throughout his set, Richie delivered hit after hit, each song resonating deeply with the crowd. From the heartfelt “Say You, Say Me” to the infectious groove of “Dancing on the Ceiling,” Richie proved why he remains a beloved figure in music. His stage presence was magnetic, effortlessly engaging the audience with his charisma and charm Lionel told stories and joked with the crowd. He stated “there will be singing tonight, but not by me……..you the crowd will be singing and dancing”.
As the night drew to a close, Lionel Richie brought the audience to their feet with the ultimate feel-good anthem for his encore, “All Night Long”. The arena transformed into a dance party, with fans of all ages dancing and singing along, united by the joyous spirit of Richie’s music.
The collaboration between Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire was a testament to the timeless power of soul and R&B. Together, they created a night that transcended generations, reminding everyone in attendance why their music continues to endure for decades. For fans in Buffalo, this concert was not just a musical event but a cherished memory that will resonate for years to come. Both acts will be having their own residency this summer/fall in Las Vegas.
Earth, Wind and Fire’s setlist: Shining Star, Let Your Feelings Show, System of Survival, Serpentine Fire, Verdine White Bass Solo, Sing a Song, Got to Get You Into My Life (The Beatles cover), Devotion, After the Love Has Gone (David Foster cover), Reasons, That’s the Way of the World, Fantasy, Boogie Wonderland, Let’s Groove, September.
Lionel Richie setlist: Hello, Running With the Night, Easy / My Love (Commodores song/Lionel Richie song), Penny Lover, Stuck on You, Sail On (Commodores song), You Are, Dancing on the Ceiling (With a snippet of Van Halen’s “Jump”), Three Times a Lady (Commodores song), Fancy Dancer / Sweet Love / Lady (You Bring Me Up) (Commodores song), Just to Be Close to You (Commodores song), Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie cover), Brick House (Commodores song) (With a snippet of Ohio Players’ “Fire”), Still (Commodores song), Say You, Say Me, We Are the World (USA for Africa cover)
Encore: All Night Long (All Night)
EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE’SHEART AND SOUL TOUR 2024 DATES:
Wed Jul 10 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Fri Jul 12 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
Sat Jul 13 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Tue Jul 16 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Wed Jul 17 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Fri Jul 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Sat Jul 20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Tue Jul 23 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Wed Jul 24 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
Sat Jul 27 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Sun Jul 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Raz Fresco collaborated with Billie Essco? Say less, though! It’s only right that these two also teamed up with The 6th Letter – an underground producer who emerged circa 2010-2011. Hence, this mixtape takes it all the way back to the back of the Cadillac and makes you feel so fly. The smooth tunes will certainly take you for a ride and makes you want hoodie season to be every season.
Initially, the internal rhymes stood out between Fresco/Essco – the interesting part about this mixtape on paper points to the Jonny Shipes connection. Shipes propelled Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era a great deal amongst several talented others along the way. 6th Letter/Raz Fresco opened on Jonny Shipes ‘Smokers Club’ Tour in 2011. Later, they hosted their own ‘Bakers Club’ in Toronto, Raz/6th’s respective hometown.
Furthermore, Kazaa/Ares/Limewire Days evolved into the MySpace/Worldstar/Datpiff essentially within decades. Judiciously, the pace of the world continues to turn on its axis. Rotationally, each spin may contain an urge to splurge on some Bape – quick hint – hit Pondon for authentic gear. Either way, when these tracks play it puts the listener in a space-time-continuum loop that engulfs the audience all throughout the experience.
Nonetheless, sensationalism within journalism must perish. Within the aura and orchestral collection of gems these gentlemen pieced together a fully textured and evenly weaved garment of a mixtape. Truly, a piece of history to have heard this formulaic foundry of intertwined intricacies.
TCT Track Reviews
Track: Getting Baked in the Bakery
Notes: “Mary go round” line symbolizes the amount of haziness provided.
Music supplies, “Homeostasis brainwave shifts.”
“Closet is brolic” means that their apparel selection and wardrobe stands next to impeccable.
Cream team on these tracks represent the trifecta of making the listener feel fly.
Thus, the accompaniment of “wisdom and mic divine” together combine to make an incredible project.
Track: 05 Baby Milo
Notes: Track brings great energy and tempo to an all-inclusive listening experience.
Track: Favorite Sweater
Notes: This track definitely has the most bop and best soul out of any of them
Quotable: “She turned the capital sweater into a crop top
Almost got cut off for that but she my top stop
We go back like blank tees from Top Shop
Calmly mami graduate to Givenchy.”
Track: Patent Leather Bapestas
Notes: These artists hit the track with a trifecta of angles. This track reminds you of an old school Wale track as this whole tape makes the listener feel fly.
Quotables: “All Star Lebron the blue resembling Neptune
Basquiats in the bedroom
On the flights you know it’s emergency
Real leg room in first class
I ain’t camera shy get real close and see the details.”
Other tracks like “Japanese Fabrics” and “Multiple Choice” stood out amongst a collection of wavy tunes. Make sure to tap in and ride the waves.
Khruangbin came to Buffalo to play outside the AKG Art Museum on May 25. Rain was in the forecast and it started to drizzle as fantastic opener John Carroll Kirby took the stage. The set was cut short a few songs later as a threat of lighting shut everything down.
As the sky darkened, it started to rain and people scurried to various spots for cover, the smarter people going inside (I was not one of them). The rain came down harder and I was starting to think that Khruangbin were going to get rained out. There was more and more movement onstage and credit to the crew, they were actually able to get the stage ready even though it was still pouring out.
Khruangbin breaks their show up into two sets, on this tour the first one was a play through of their fantastic new album, A La Sala. The album is a little more laid back than previous efforts, but it is full of luscious textures and melodies, which were often a slow burn that really simmered in the night with the rain coming down.
You could tell the Texas trio (Mark Speer on guitar, Laura Lee Ochoa on bass and DJ Johnson on Drums, with everyone sharing vocal duties) was enjoying playing the new tunes. The highlights from the album were my highlights from the set, (“May Ninth, “Hold Me Up (Thank you)”, and “Three From Two”) and the set peaked with the blissful ending of “A Love International”. The album closer then ended the set, the dreamlike “Les Petits Gris” and they took a quick break.
A “Bin Bin” started off set two and got the crowd moving. After playing the new album, the second set was more of their older crowd favorites. The rain was a little too much for some, so the crowd thinned out and we seemed to lose some talkers and some of the more fairweather fans, so the crowd during this part of the show was really locked in.
Khruangbin’s vibe is generally a deep groove but right during the last section of “Lady and Man”, they seemed to flip the switch and the rest of the set felt like music you’d hear in a club vs. on a beach. The drenched crowd ate it up and tried to unsuccessfully to dance themselves dry, though the rain did finally let up towards the end of the second set.
Khruangbin next heads to the Midwest before wrapping up their US summer tour in Bonnaroo.
Set 1: Fifteen Fifty-Three, May Ninth, Ada Jean, Farolim de Felgueiras, Pon Pon, Todavia Viva, Juegos y Nube, Hold Me Up (Thank You), Caja de la Sala, Three from Two, A Love International, Les Petits Gris
Set 2: Bin Bin, August 10, Master of Life, Father Bird, Mother Bird, Lady and Man, So We Won’t Forget, Even Finds the Third Room, Time (You and I), People Everywhere (Still Alive)
1970s-style Americana/hard-rock band Well Worn Boot released Live from Jamestown on May 20, a live album featuring four songs from their 2023 album, Riverbottom Nightmare. The nearly 20-minute experience uses recorded audio from two live 2022 performances, one in Jamestown and the other in Forestville.
Initially formed in 2010, Well Worn Boot has always thrived on their commitment to entertain. Constantly dressed in extravagant costumes for live sets, the band’s public inspiration of GWAR is worn on their sleeves. Their 2023 album, Riverbottom Nightmare, saw Well Worn Boot returning and refining the comedy-laced American hard rock sound they began in their early years, particularly on their only previous full-length project, Greatest Hits: Vol. 1 (2010-2014).
The boys in the band’s newest project, Live from Jamestown, which was released exclusively on Bandcamp, sees Well Worn Boot taking a choice few songs from their previous album to a live setting. The live atmosphere of both sets is perfectly encapsulated through lead singer/flutist Plainsman’s natural stage banter and the crowd’s cheers, but clearly mixed with care so that the online quality is top-notch.
Photo Credit – Rob Emhof
While not having any original tracks, Live from Jamestown shows Well Worn Boot in their element: the stage. All four songs maintain the manic and over-the-top energy that came from their studio counterparts, but dialed up to 11. Good luck trying to keep the hooks from “Knockin’ One Back with the Boys” or “Makin’ Money for the City” out of your head.
The biggest highlight of the album has to be the eight-minute barn burner, “Boys in the Band.” Already a six-minute track on the 2023 album, the live version extends the run time by an additional two minutes, mostly taken up by a mid-song passionate yet hilarious comparison of being in a band to being on a sports team.
Hopefully Live from Jamestown is just a hold-me-over for Well Worn Boot’s next full-length LP, because the world needs more of the theatric aggression that Well Worn Boot relentlessly displays with every release, especially this one.
Key Tracks: “Knockin’ One Back with the Boys,” “Makin’ Money for the City,” “Boys in the Band”
In the midst of a great run of releases, Conway The Machine remains as prolific as ever with the release of his latest EP, Slant Face Killah. This latest effort follows a continuous run of projects that solidify Conway as a solo force in hip hop. This time the Buffalo native has tabbed a host of legendary and contemporary figures for guest appearances and production.
Notably, Slant Face Killah features Wu Tang members Raekwon and Method Man, along with Joey Bada$$, Stove God Cooks, Tech N9ne, Memphis native Key Glock and west coast stalwarts Ab-Soul and Larry June. Moreover, Slant Face Killah sees production from Swizz Beats, Cool & Dre, Don Cannon, Conductor Williams, Daringer and The Alchemist. All in all, Conway The Machine presents another diverse project testing his songwriting prowess and his adaptability with various forms and sounds of hip hop.
Slant Face Killah continue Conway The Machine’s prolific run of releases.
Conway The Machine On The Rise
However, since the release of 2022’s God Don’t Make Mistakes, commercial breakthroughs have become the norm for The Machine. In like manner, his success continued in 2023 in what was Conway’s most commercial and critically successful year to date. Notably, in May of 2023, Conway released his Drumwork debut Wont He Do It and with it launched a worldwide tour. He returned with a ensemble label album in Conway The Machine Presents: Drumwork The Label and followed that with the Speshal Machinery (with frequent collaborator 38 Spesh), Palmero (with Wun Two) and Conductor Machine (with Conductor Williams), and most recently Hall & Nash 2 with Westside Gunn and produced by The Alchemist.
Known for the quality and quantity of his output, Conway The Machine returns after a yearlong sabbatical in between solo projects. The 14-track project spanning 1 hour and 6 minutes will serve to remind fans of the rapper’s lyrical prowess, while solidifying his curation and songwriting, key attributes as he heads his label Drumwork.
