NYS Music 2024

Tag: Essex

  • Dopapod Brings Best Friends Tour to Rochester

    Dopapod brought it’s Best Friends Tour to Essex in Rochester on Tuesday, December 3.

    About a month away from their last shows before an indefinite hiatus, guitarist Rob Compa brought the band to his hometown for a throwdown at the newish venue, Essex. Before the show, Rob asked the crowd if they wanted one long set or two, and of course the crowd voted for the usual jamband two set format. The band warmed the crowd from the frigid cold with a heater of a first set before bringing out their ex-employee, Goose’s Peter Anspach. Anspach first shredded guitar on “Nuggy Jawson” before jumping on keys for the set closer, “Indian Grits.”

    Dopapod leaned heavy on the classics for set two, including versions of “8 Years Ended,” “Bubble Brain” and a Zappa cover in the middle of a song, “FABA” > “I Am The Slime” > “FABA.” They brought up Anspach again for the encore, and he helped them with “Best Friends” and “Runny” for the encore.

    Dopapod next head west to Colorado, before wrapping up the year in the Midwest. They are playing their final shows on New Year’s Eve in Columbus, Ohio, so catch them if you can.

    Dopapod – Essex, Rochester, NY – Tuesday, December 3, 2024

    Set 1: Welcome to Paradise, Draculas Monk> Nerds> Two Somebodies> Nerds, Wizzy, Turn By Turn*, Metal Nuggy Jawson^, Indian Grits$
    Set 2: Cloud World, 8 Years Ended, Brand New Home, Test of Time, Bubblebrain, FABA> I Am The Slime> FABA
    Encore: Best Friends#, Runny^

    * MGMT Kids tease
    ^ Peter Anspach on Guitar
    $ Peter Anspach on Keys
    # Peter Anspach on Vocals and Guitar

  • Public Water Supply Announce new Album and Pre-Eclipse “Sun Festival”

    Rochester-based alternative rock/indie Americana act Public Water Supply has announced the release of their new record General Strike, to be showcased at Sun Festival, the band’s pre-eclipse event.

    Sun Festival takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2024, at Essex, a music hall located at 1048 University Avenue which can hold 700 concert-goers. Public Water Supply will play their new record General Strike, plus some fan favorites. It started on Nazareth University’s campus when all five band members were enrolled for undergraduate studies. They have played on and off together since graduation in 2019 and the core group remains intact with Iggy Marino and Karis Gregory, Jr. on guitars, plus Alex Brophy on bass, and Spencer Kronrich on drums. Last summer, Tanner Kartes returned to the stage to flash his harmonica skills and rejoined as the fifth member. Public Water Supply has sold out Rochester venues such as Iron Smoke Distillery, Three Heads Brewery, and the Jackrabbit in Buffalo.

    “We are calling it SUN FESTIVAL in observance of the cosmos and we will assemble in celebration of the moon, the sun, and our musical surroundings,” exclaimed Iggy Marino, the band’s frontman. “It feels like the universe is truly coming together for us and we can’t wait for our babies to hear our creation!”

    The band released their first self-titled record last year, growing their fanbase dubbed the “babies,” with General Strike on its way. Billed as music written for the working class, “This album showcases the daily struggle of living, loving, and wanting to ‘stick it to the man’”, added Marino. “We’ve been re-defining our music and experimenting with our sound all year long. I think our babies are really going to notice more of a rock n’ roll feel in these songs.”

    The first single, “Leila” will drop on Friday, January 12.  Lead guitarist Karis Gregory, Jr. wrote the music and lyrics. “Leila is loosely inspired by the story of famed criminals, Bonnie and Clyde, two lovers on a cross-country crime spree, burning rubber and living an intense but exhilarating life,” claimed Karis. The rest of the songs on the album, including the title piece, “General Strike”, were written by lead singer and guitarist, Iggy Marino.

    Tickets for Sun Festival will go on sale Friday, January 12, priced at $25 each.

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

    There might not be a lot of musicians traveling this time of year but Rochester is still brimming with great options for shows this January. Immerse yourself in all the local scene has to offer, high-quality music spanning all genres.

    January 13: Chi Therealist at Essex

    Rochester has original hip hop. Chi Therealist has made big splashes on the scene opening for the sold-out Danielle Ponder show where he is about to headline himself, and with big gigs at Flour City Station and shows at the Rochester Fringe Fest. Get ready to feel the beats as he starts off the year right. The bill is rounded out by local R&B singer Shay Shine.

    Tickets are $30 and the show starts at 8pm

    January 19: Overhand Sam and Bad Weapon at LUX Lounge

    Rochester has original psychedelic rock. And no one is hitting that space harder than Overhand Sam and Bad Weapon right now. An active 2023 looks to continue as they get things started early this year. Late night on a Friday at LUX is the perfect place to take in their manic and hooky typhoon of sound. Their local brothers in psychedelic rock Fuzzrod will open.

    Tickets are $5 at the door and show will start around 10pm.

    January 12: Honey Smugglers at Essex

    Rochester has original Americana. If you’re looking for a show with that down-home rootsy sound, look no further. The Honey Smugglers have got you covered. And tonight they’re joined by like-minded folks in Folkfaces and A Girl Named Genny. It will be a night full of singalongs, sway-alongs, and good old-fashioned body moving and foot stomping.

    Tickets are $29.50 and the show gets going at 8pm.

    January 20 & 21: fivebyfive at RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium

    Rochester has original classical music. Rochester also has a solar eclipse coming up in a few months. The two marry up, in one of many planned events around the celestial marvel coming our way. fivebyfive, an award-winning, chamber ensemble known for its impeccable musicianship and adventurous spirit, will play specially-commissioned works as immersive visuals are presented on the dome of the planetarium. Might be better than the actual eclipse?

    Tickets are $25 and the shows get started at 4pm, with pre-concert talks at 3:30pm.

    January 31: Dean Keller’s Soul Jazz Joint at Faircraft Brauhaus

    Rochester has original jazz. OK so this isn’t entirely original as they play covers of pop and rock hits, but of Dean Keller’s own arrangements and all very good. Sometimes it even gets into a name-that-tune situation, fun all around!

    This one is free, and will start at 6:30pm.