Fiona Apple 6/19/12 State Theater – Ithaca, NY
First off, let me just say that Fiona Apple puts on one amazing show, and Dan Smalls Presents did a fantastic job getting this booking in Ithaca, NY!
Now, allow me to tell you that if you didn’t make it, or were anywhere air-conditioned, you may have been better off… It was oppressively hot in the venue. The fact that State Theater, as I came to find out firsthand and by the cute stage manager who works there, had no A.C. and only two fans for an almost sold out show, made for a sweaty, sticky evening. Seriously… You’d have thought hat/shirt/paper flapping was an Olympic event… It was a clambake in there… More like a basement punk show by comparison. I found myself spending a lot of time outside and in the lobby to “cool off.” If any independently wealthy and charitable types want to make an awesome venue more comfortable in the summer months, to the tune of half a million, call them up and ask for Carolyn… She’d really appreciate it!
Dream Theater 6/15/12 – Main Street Armory – Rochester, NY
If there was ever any need to verify an artist’s previous visit to a particular town, none was more convincing than Dream Theater’s James LaBrie when speaking about the group’s first time in Rochester, NY in 1992. Snowed in and unable to leave, he spoke of eating lots of chicken wings and drinking too much vodka… Has he been here before, or what? Someone get that man a Garbage Plate!
20 years later, Western NY was privy to a rare treat on June 15th, as the progressive rock legends, for some reason, selected Rochester for their Summer Tour Opener. Not something we see too often around our parts, the group was in fine form as they celebrated their latest, absolutely epic release, “A Dramatic Turn Of Events.” If you haven’t heard it yet, you’re doing yourself a musical disservice.
Abject “Try Again!” – self release
Abject is NYHC through and through. After my fourth listen in an hour, I’m diggin’ this album a whole lot! Clocking in at just over 16 minutes, “Try Again!” is 9-tracks born of beer, barroom brawls, and George Carlin’s unique take on society. Politics be damned… This is music to get in a fight to after a night of hard drinking. “What are you lookin’ at?”
I met guitarist Mattakins once in NYC. We got to a bar in Astoria to talk music at around 4pm, left at 10pm, and had drinks in our hands the whole time. It was a fun night, followed by one hell of a hangover. Grad school be damned, I wasn’t able to commit to any projects at that time, but I’m glad to know Craigslist isn’t just for hookers and shitty job opportunities.
Full of the crunchy guitars you’d expect, the album offers some excellent builds into ripping old school hardcore beats. The gruff, raspy vocals compliment the sound well, and the frenetic energy they bring to the recording makes up for any technical issues. I mean… It was probably recorded next to a keg, anyway.
Hilarious titles like “SUV Tard” and “Popped Collar Broken Nose” should give you an idea that Abject’s contempt for mainstream society’s trendy consumerism and fashion sense is not to be taken lightly, in a lighthearted way.
Best taken straight up with no chaser, Abject is great!
Primus Landmark Theater – Syracuse, NY 5/20/12
Does anybody not like Primus? I mean, I know “Primus Sucks” and all, but are there people out there who don’t get at least a chuckle when they hear Les Claypool’s voice on record? He may not be the most charismatic, exuberant, or athletic frontman in the world, but he is definitely one of the most unique and talented.
So it was a blast getting to watch the outlandish trio at Landmark Theater in Syracuse, NY again after a long absence. Their “Evening with” performance featured 2 sets of music like only Primus can make… Quirky, catchy, and abnormally poppy. Les Claypool, Larry LeLonde, and new (old) drummer Jay Lane putting their expansive output on display is a great way to end a weekend.
Big Leg Emma “Revival” Album Review
I’ll say it upfront… This album is very, very good! “Revival,” the latest offering from Jamestown, NY’s Big Leg Emma, is 12 tracks of amazing Bluegrass/Folk/Rock songs that dig right in and make you listen. I am not sure why this is my first exposure to the group, but it certainly will not be the last.
Tapped as one of the headliners for this year’s Fiddler’s Picnic in June, the sextet are all furious musicians with a clear vision of what they want to write, and how to play it well. This is one of the densest, cleanest recordings I have listened to all year… The songs work very nicely with one and other and make for a superb listening feel.
“Revival” offers a great mix of upbeat and mellow tracks, wielding a wide range of emotionality that can cater to just about any mood. The vocal harmonies really shine on this album… “The Real You” is probably my favorite track (so far… I’ll be listening again and again) and the musicianship of this band, the dynamic range, and the chops they bring to “Revival” are fantastic! I feel fortunate to find out about Big Leg Emma just as they re-enter the performance world after a 2-year hiatus.
Here’s to an excellent second wave for B.L.E.!!! Come get a glimpse and have some fun with them at Fiddler’s Picnic in June!
