Music, City Newspaper

AMERICANA | Jim Avett

Frank De Blase — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Frank De Blase I guess you could say the tree doesn't stand too far from where the apple falls. The Avett Brothers' father, Jim, has retired from his career as a welder to hit the road, just like his very popular boys.…

ROCK | Sky People

LEAH CREARY — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by LEAH CREARY Local band Sky People describes itself as being "a crowd of cloud-dwellers [who] coalesce to create cacophonous compositions." Alliteration aside, Sky People is a band that has a clear reverence for the psychedelic rock that came out of the 60's, made obvious thanks to the band's frequent use of rich harmonies and its relaxed, laid-back vibe.…

FESTIVAL | 2013 Rochester Lilac Festival

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

The weather wasn't exactly cooperative for the first weekend of the 2013 Rochester Lilac Festival, so let's hope the second half of spring salvo is embraced a little more closely by Mother Nature. Among the free music headliners taking the Main Stage this week are world-music mainstays Rusted Root, "Blood & Roses" rockers The Smithereens, and local favorites like The Prickers, Prime Time Funk, and The Campbell Brothers.…

Punk | The UV Race

LEAH CREARY — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by LEAH CREARY The UV Race comes all the way from Australia, where the band makes a lo-fi brand of punk that is akin to the likes of Lou Reed, The Sex Pistols, and The Ramones. The band doesn't stray far from the classic punk feel, generally employing a limited melody, defiant lyricism, and conventional punk instrumentation.…

The Mighty High and Dry

Frank De Blase — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Mighty morphing by Frank De Blase In addition to having arguably one of the cooler band names in all of Smugtown, The Mighty High and Dry is the sum of some impressive parts. Members of this elite ensemble have flexed in the wall-o-brash brass that was The Po' Boys Brass Band and the funky-as-it-gets boogie of Street Level.…

FOLK/JAZZ | Kneptune

Frank De Blase — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Frank De Blase This will be this Rochester band's Lovin' Cup debut. Self-described as alternative/folk/jazz, this seven-piece adds an element of darkness to its rather dense textures and lighthearted irony.…

POP/ROCK | New Found Glory

Suzan Pero — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Suzan Pero While New Found Glory's heyday may have been in the late 90's and early 00's, that certainly doesn't mean it has lost any punch in the interim. In town for the 10-year anniversary tour of "Sticks and Stones," the band has come to not only play the album in its entirety, but maybe show you something new.…

SKA | The Slackers

Frank De Blase — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Frank De Blase Of all the genres I like, I have multiple favorite bands for multiple various reasons. But when it comes to ska, I've got one: The Slackers.…

BLUEGRASS | The Lyric Chorale

Paloma Capanna — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Paloma Capanna The last time I heard them, it was sacred classical. But the 40-voice community chorus of The Lyric Chorale is contemporary bluegrass for its spring concert, "Black Ties and Blue Grass."…

Concert Review: David Mayfield Parade, Jeremy Laurson, Teressa Wilcox Band

Frank DeBlase — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:40:00 -0400

Friday night marked the first part of The David Mayfield Parade's two-night stand at Abilene. By the time I made the scene the place was packed and sufficiently lubricated on Genny, Jim, and Jack, and show openers The Tarbox Ramblers' opening set was full of lowdown, drop-tune, and swampy Beantown voodoo.…

Concert Review: NEXUS and the RPO

Paloma Capanna — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:29:00 -0400

The audience at Thursday night's Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performance (Peter Bay, guest conductor) was treated to a "sound bath" - there is no other way to describe the beautiful and interesting composition "From Me Flows What You Call Time," by Toru Takemitsu, performed with NEXUS percussion ensemble. Paired with Karen Tanaka's "Water of Life," this is a must-hear concert.…

CD Review: The Jay D’Amico Quintet “Tango Caliente”

Ron Netsky — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

“Tango Caliente,” the new album by The Jay D’Amico Quintet, is so good it may make you wonder why D’Amico is not better known. Over his four decade career he’s collaborated extensively with bassist Milt Hinton, and from 1984 to the night before 9/11, D’Amico was pianist in residence at Windows on the World, the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center.

by Ron Netsky “Tango Caliente,” the new album by The Jay D’Amico Quintet, is so good it may make you wonder why D’Amico is not better known. Over his four decade career he’s collaborated extensively with bassist Milt Hinton, and from 1984 to the night before 9/11, D’Amico was pianist in residence at Windows on the World, the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center.…

Pop/Rock | Silversun Pickups

David Yockel, Jr. — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by David Yockel, Jr. Silversun Pickups has done pretty much everything right in its relatively short, and absolutely celebrated, existence. Since it arose from the Silver Lake music scene in 2002, the LA four-piece has been nominated for a Grammy and sold well over 1 million records worldwide.…

CLASSICAL | Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra

Paloma Capanna — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Paloma Capanna Looking to add a classical touch to your Mother's Day? Join the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra for its annual Mother's Day concert.…

CD Review: Pascal Le Boeuf “Pascal’s Triangle”

Ron Netsky — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Pianist Pascal Le Boeuf is a 21st century renaissance man. He’s made inroads in the worlds of classical music, indie-rock, and jazz. With his identical twin brother Remy, he’s won top awards in various international songwriting competitions. “Pascal’s Triangle” finds Le Boeuf in a jazz trio setting with excellent partners Linda Oh on bass and Justin Brown on drums.

by Ron Netsky Pianist Pascal Le Boeuf is a 21st century renaissance man. He’s made inroads in the worlds of classical music, indie-rock, and jazz. With his identical twin brother Remy, he’s won top awards in various international songwriting competitions.…

POP/ROCK | Rochester Lilac Festival 2013

Frank De Blase — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Frank De Blase This year's Lilac Festival entertainment schedule has some summer-festival standards Rochester has come to expect, like The Skycoasters, Marshall Tucker Band, and Rusted Root. There are classic acts that ought to scratch your nostalgic itch like Eddie Money, The English Beat, and The Smithereens, plus newer-on-the scene sensations like lake Street Drive, J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound, The Lone Below, and many more, plus a ton of homegrown sensations like The Campbell Brothers, My Plastic Sun, the Crawdiddies, AudioInflux, and Teressa Wilcox to name a few.…

MUSIC FEATURE: Vinyl Orange Ottoman

Frank De Blase — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Vinyl Orange Ottoman empire by Frank De Blase The reason it's so hard to find adjectives to accurately describe Rochester's Vinyl Orange Ottoman is simple: the band itself is an adjective. The timing is just out of whack.…

POP | Teddy Geiger

Suzan Pero — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Suzan Pero Teddy Geiger is back in town to show us the softer side of his heart. Playing to the hometown crowd, one would assume his particularly heart-felt blend of blue-eyed pop (seriously — his eyes are disturbingly blue) would be even more so this evening as he swings in to promote his upcoming album "The Last Fears."…

ROCK | Bow Thayer & Perfect Trainwreck

Roman Divezur — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Roman Divezur Many bands walk along the roots-rock path, but few sound as fresh as Bow Thayer & Perfect Trainwreck. The quintet infuses banjo twang with elements of prog rock and jam band to create what it describes as "mountain soul."…

POST-PUNK | Bella's Bartok

LEAH CREARY — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by LEAH CREARY Massachusetts-based band Bella's Bartok plays a distinct mix of punk-rock, bohemian/folk, and dance music, complete with creative, broad instrumentation and unexpected group harmonies. The band describes its sound as being akin to, "Tom Waits kicking the crap out of the Fleet Foxes, whilst being serenaded by a klezmer wedding band."…

FOLK | Yellow Red Sparks

LEAH CREARY — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by LEAH CREARY Los Angeles-based band Yellow Red Sparks began as a solo project for lead singer/songwriter Joshua Hanson, but eventually developed into the trio that it is today, featuring additional musicians on the upright bass and drums. Yellow Red Sparks creates folk-inspired indie rock, following in the newly founded tradition of bands such as The Head and The Heart, The Lumineers, and Blind Pilot.…

CHAMBER POP | The Lighthouse and The Whaler

Andy Klingenberger — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Andy Klingenberger On the heels of a brief tour with Central New York sweethearts Ra Ra Riot, Cleveland-based band The Lighthouse and The Whaler bring its melodic folk-rock, replete with glockenspiel and strings, to town. The outfit has released two albums and an EP over the course of its five-year existence, each showcasing enough catchy sing-along choruses and handclaps to thaw even the coldest heart.…

Concert Review: Hate Machine Farewell Show

Frank DeBlase — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:13:00 -0400

It takes a lot of guts to leave the party while it's still hoppin', but that's exactly what Hate Machine did Friday night at Montage Music Hall to a rabid -- albeit bummed -- crowd. Early in the set singer Jed Seaver stopped between songs to explain.…

Concert Announcement: RPO Summer Season, including "Glee"'s Matthew Morrison

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:51:00 -0400

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra announced its summer 2013 season this afternoon. The schedule includes a 1920's themed 90th anniversary concert, regional concerts in Inlet and Geneseo, and will be headlined by a Pops performance featuring Broadway star Matthew Morrison, best known for his leading role on the TV musical drama "Glee."

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Concert Review: City Newspaper's 2013 Best Busker Contest

Frank DeBlase — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:02:00 -0400

What a splendiferous day it was for City Newspaper's annual Best Busker Contest in Rochester's East End. Competition for those precious little guitar picks was heated, as artists of varying degrees of talent and style whipped it out like there was no doubt.…