Choice Concerts
Remember that scene in "The Matrix" where Neo meets Trinity for the first time? Ever fantasized that was you? Local party-throwers Technoir Events and SickSound Productions know the feeling, and are taking the Dub Land Underground down the rabbit hole with them. This sci-fi-themed event is transforming Dub Land's two
Nightlife Articles
Jack-of-all-trades Dave Hartmann has recently put the finishing touches on the South Wedge-adjacent new bar, Firehouse Saloon. Doors opened in mid-May, marking the beginning of Hartmann's third business and his second watering hole. For 12 years Hartmann has been behind the laidback vibes, cheap booze, and general hospitality of The Dr.'s
Choice Concerts
Funky. Hard. Deep. Jacking. Get your mind out of the gutter - these are some of the styles of house you're likely to hear when Toronto's Deko-ze comes to Tilt Nightclub. He'll be in town to celebrate resident DJ Jon Herbert's birthday with a time-tested mix of four-on-the-floor beats. And
Choice Concerts
New York City's Ruste Juxx and Marco Polo are bringing their new project "The Exxecution" from one side of the Empire State to the other. The collaboration is genuine East Coast hip-hop with hard hitting, street smart lyrics from Juxx over Polo's boom-bap. These two have worked with some of
Choice Concerts
With a sold-out North American tour, major festival shows, and more than 500,000 downloads of his albums, Pretty Lights, a.k.a. Derek Smith, has certainly been keeping busy over the last couple years. Fortunately he doesn't have to go it alone at live shows, where he's joined by drummer Cory Eberhard.
Nightlife Articles
Quickly and quietly, Flight Wine Bar opened earlier this month, joining the list of upscale Rochester nightlife spots. Passersby may miss the new establishment at first glance. Flight is tucked into a cozy nook in Corn Hill Landing, conveniently and coincidentally next to an unaffiliated wine shop, and complemented by
Choice Concerts
My first experience with The Apples In Stereo was the song "Signal In The Sky (Let's Go)" on Cartoon Network's "Powerpuff Girls" soundtrack. Laugh if you will, but this album was a cartoon-fueled indie-pop extravaganza and a fitting introduction to the band. The Apples are members of the Elephant Six
Nightlife Articles
With tastes changing so quickly, and with new people turning 21 every day, it's important for clubs and bars to stay fresh. Within the past few weeks, two staples of the Rochester nightlife scene from opposite ends of the spectrum have done just that. The space formerly known as Nasty D's
Choice Concerts
Freezepop is, as the name implies and the band describes, "sweet and cold and fruity and plastick-y." And as contradictory as it seems, it's all true. This Boston foursome has made synth pop into a science, while respecting it as an art form. The sounds fly haphazardly out of the
Choice Concerts
After all the commotion it caused, Y2K ended up being a total bust. But with 2012 coming up, we have another chance at a memorable global catastrophe. Hopefully this one will involve music, dancing, and costumes. In case it does, get ready at Tilt's post-apocalyptic rave, Rapture. Two of the
Choice Concerts
Festival favorite Lotus is coming to town, and bringing a traveling act with it. No, it's not a circus, but between songs that jump from atmospheric improvisation to pulsing club beats and a light show to match, you might feel like you're seeing five acts in one. Lotus is touring
Choice Concerts
Much like chemistry, hip-hop revolves around a number of elements. But unlike chemistry, the Elemental 2 hip-hop show won't bore you to death. To celebrate the release of his album "Consumption," local lyricist Gillateen called up all his friends from across the periodic table - DJ'ing, MC'ing, breakdancing, and graffiti
Choice Concerts
Valentine's Day Massacre with The Emersons, Stone Believer, and more occurs Saturday, February 13 at 8 p.m. at the Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave. $5. 454-2966.
Choice Concerts
A cross-section of Upstate hip-hop bands are coming together to offer a sampler for discerning tastes. Locals The Blackened Blues eat hip-hop deep fried in jazz, while the members of Subsoil like theirs as a shot served in a dirty glass. Syracuse's Sophistafunk, like the name implies, prefers its hip-hop
Choice Concerts
"Clap your hands everybody, if you got what it takes..." Because JFN Radio and Festival Prints are throwing a party, and it's all about the breaks. Hosted by local celebrity MC Nikal Fieldz (whose rhymes are much better than my own), this jam is bringing all the elements of hip-hop
Choice Concerts
Hassaan Mackey is what I like to call Rochester's "Mad Scientist of Rap." This is for a number of reasons. Offstage the experienced emcee comes across as soft-spoken and pensive. However, as soon as he gets a mic in his hand, the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde is complete. Freestyle
Choice Concerts
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read "Drum Machines Have No Soul - Coalition for the Rehumanization of Music." Now, without getting into a big discussion on the history of electronic music, the technological importance of the New York City Blackout, and all the class politics this simple statement
Choice Concerts
Someone much more eloquent than I once said, "The pen is mightier than the sword." Ithaca's own Gunpoets are quite familiar with this, and put the theory into practice regularly. The band's brand of live rebel rap echoes the sentiments heard in barrios across the globe, and the name is
Choice Concerts
For those of you who divide your time between living in Compton and living in the World of Warcraft, do yourself a favor and check out MC Lars. The self-proclaimed "post-punk laptop rapper" will satisfy your craving for nerdy pop-culture references and banging beats at the same time. Despite his
Choice Concerts
The Nu Roc DJ Crew has been an international player in the breaks scene for five years now, and if that isn't reason enough to celebrate I don't know what is. They've put in work around the world, all from their home base in the 585. From hosting a radio
