Monday, June 10, 2013
Concert Review: The Lumineers, Cold War Kids, J Roddy Walston
Posted By Frank De Blase on Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 2:53 PM
I'm amazed -- even scared a little -- of the fragility of the path that led me to something I love. If I hadn't been someplace in particular at a particular time I never would have met so-and-so, or experienced such-and-such. Hell, I almost didn't meet my wife, and that would've sucked.
So, on Friday night me and the toe-headed Pink Flamingess were taking our time getting to CMAC in the persistent drizzle. Opening bands weren't our concern; headliners The Lumineers were. If we had dragged our asses or hung out in the parking lot with the beer-helmet crowd we would have missed Richmond, Virginia's J Roddy Walston and the Business -- and that would've sucked, too. With a hint of N'awlins swagger and sweet heat, Walston and his ragged denim crew parked themselves in and around the other bands' gear and proceeded to slay the damp and shivering hipster dragon with some down-home, rough-and-raw rock 'n' roll.
Walston's voice was amazingly soulful but lacked the trappings of a soul-singer as he swept the piano keys with long hair and nimble fingers. And the band's grasp of classic strains was only bested by its equally impressive harnessing of its warm, crunchy tone. Kind of Allman Brothers, kind of Black Crowes -- or Black Oak Arkansas -- kind of Dr. John, kind of pretty great. I can't wait to see this band again.
L.A.'s Cold War Kids followed. Short answer: they sucked. Long answer: they write very interesting tunes with a lot of dynamics and clever hooks, it's just the sound that sucked eggs. The bass was so subsonic and loud I almost shit myself. It completely drowned out everything else on stage. The audience seemed to enjoy hearing songs they recognized (when they could recognize them, I suppose), but I can't be the only one that was there plugging my ears and running for the porta-potty.
It's got to be The Lumineers' sincerity and lack of fanfare that has won the band its fans. Now, I'm not saying that rock concert pageantry is dead. But it is nice to hear and see a band that has perfected its music and lets the components of the old song and dance fall where they may. For instance, the band didn't hold on to its mega-hit "Ho Hey" until the end of the set, like you'd expect. And all the musicians on stage seemed to be playing for each other as much as for the packed CMAC shell.
Monday, June 3, 2013
CONCERT UPDATE: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings cancel Jazz Fest performance
Shemekia Copeland added to line-up
Posted on Mon, Jun 3, 2013 at 12:01 PM
The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival announced today that Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings -- one of the most buzzed-about acts at this year's festival - has cancelled its upcoming album release and touring schedule for this year due to Jones' recent diagnosis of stage one bile-duct cancer. The band will not be performing its free concert as part of the Jazz Fest on June 28.
Instead the James Hunter Six will take the 9 p.m. slot at the East & Alexander stage, with blues singer Shemekia Copeland taking the 7 p.m. slot.
The full press release follows:
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Cancel Album Release and Touring For 2013 - Including Appearance at Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest on June 28
Health Concerns Necessitate Postponement
James Hunter Six to Play at 9PM -- Shemekia Copeland Added to Lineup at 7PM
Both Concerts Free!
Rochester, NY--June 3, 2013--Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings announced today, that plans to tour and release their upcoming album in 2013 have been postponed.
According to her tour management, "Sharon Jones, who was scheduled to perform at a free concert at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival on June 28 at 9PM, has been diagnosed with stage-one bile duct cancer, which has fortunately been discovered early and has not spread. It is expected that the immediate proposed surgical solution will lead to a full recovery, but because of its invasive and complex nature, will necessitate a rather lengthy convalescence. A new release date and rescheduled tours worldwide will be announced at a later date."
The James Hunter Six, previously scheduled for 7PM on June 28th, will now play at 9PM. Added to the schedule, now performing at 7PM on the 28th, will be two-time Grammy nominee, Shemekia Copeland. Both are free shows on the City of Rochester East Avenue and Chestnut Street Stage presented by Rochester General Health System.
John Nugent, Producer and Artistic Director for XRIJF said, "We send Sharon our very best wishes for good health and a speedy recovery on behalf of the festival and all her fans here in Rochester. She will be missed and we hope that she will be able to join at a future festival."
In a statement, "Sharon would like her fans to know that she is anxious to get back on her feet, and that she is "down, but not out!" Give The People What They Want will NOT be released on Aug 6, 2013 as previously scheduled."
Jones said, "Over the last few weeks I haven't felt good and I didn't know what was going on. We sadly had to cancel shows while I went through a series of tests and short hospital stays. We just found out that I have a stage-one tumor on my bile duct. Luckily we caught it really early and fast and the doctors say it's operable and curable! I will be having surgery very soon and will have to rest and recover. I'll be staying in touch and keeping my fans and friends updated on my progress. I'm looking forward to getting back on the road to give the people what they want!"
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