Cheap Trick 6/28/12 – Watertown Fairgrounds – Watertown, NY
Watertown, NY will NEVER be considered an epicenter of entertainment or culture, but there has been a surprising increase in the number of concerts coming through the area as of late. You have to hand it to Black Shoe Productions and Amp Entertainment, who have been working very hard to keep us musically entertained. They’ve been doing some great things in Upstate, NY, and J.P. is the dude!
Truth be told, you can’t beat a classic act, and on June 28th, Cheap Trick brought their timeless sound to the Watertown Fairgrounds for a great set of inspired rock and comically charming stage banter, just as they’ve been doing for the past 40 years. Think about that… 40 years of constant touring. There is so much heart in this band, and though time is ultimately every person’s enemy, it’s good to know that some things won’t end until they end completely. Though they are heading out with Aerosmith this summer, the “American Beatles” were here tonight!
Matthew Sweet “Girlfriend” 20th Anniversary Tour – The Haunt 6/20/12 – Ithaca, NY
Ahhh the scourge of the super-single! One-hit wonders have stifled the commercial careers of talented artists since the very beginning of commercial music. Sometimes an artist writes a song so catchy and memorable that they are never able to triumph over its creative moment in time. Matthew Sweet is damn near the top of that list… His hit single, “Girlfriend,” off the album of the same name, is still in rotation to this day and represents a song so wonderfully written and poppy that it cannot be matched. A blessing and a curse, the track shot him through the roof of pop popularity, but much of the album went unnoticed to the masses. It’s a clear-cut casualty of brilliance, if you will.
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey – Xerox Auditorium – Rochester, NY
Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey was one of the many impressive acts who performed at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival this year. Making a stop during their tour of the East Coast to enlighten us with their progressive jazz sound and powerful stage presence, the group consists of Brian Haas (piano), Chris Combs (lap steel), Jeff Harshbarger (upright bass), Josh Raymer (drums), and guest artist Mark Southerland (saxophone). This trip, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is bringing to life their newest project, The Race Riot Suite.
Queensryche ousts singer Geoff Tate
It appears Geoff Tate has been tossed from Queensryche due to “creative differences.” Check out the article right HERE:
Now hair metal castrati, this band really has no purpose existing anymore. I mean, it was hard enough knowing Chris DeGarmo wasn’t playing with them anymore, but Geoff? Is there anybody listening??? No… There is nobody listening from now on. No Tate, No Ryche. Bummer.
