Outside The Clef

ROCK, ROLL & RANT!!

2010-08-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center, SPAC, is one of the many jewels found in the "jewelry box" that is Saratoga Springs, New York. A cultural hub for Upstate New York and her surrounding areas: Connecticut, Vermont, the Capital District and Hudson Valley of New York State, the Berkshires and local enclaves of Massachusetts, and Eastern Canada. Annually, it plays host to The New York City Ballet (of which ii've been an eager patron), The Philadelphia Orchestra, various music concerts and entertainment events.

On the 28th (this past Saturday), ii and on of my concert-going co-horts, Jade, went to SPAC to review the UPROAR Rock Festival sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink. Everyone, including their mother, brother, sister, boyfriend, neighbor and baby were there, on a day when the temperatures peaked in the low 90's and hovered around the high 80's well into the night (if it were not for a gentle but continuous breeze, ii would've imploded).

We arrived at the venue's main parking lot, located on Route 50, a little before the doors were to officially open at 3pm. Cars stacked and lined like sardines didn't prevent us from finding a spot succinctly (with the help of parking attendants, of course). Jade and ii made our way over the passenger bridge (the connecting thread from the lot to the center), above traffic, through another lot, up an incline, to the WILL CALL VIP Window to pick up our tickets/passes, then continued through the security gate where our bags were thoroughly checked (awesome job), through the entrance gate, over another bridge (above a creek), to wait on line to get a yellow wristband for those of legal drinking age (she "carded" me - ha!), and then we were on our way to peruse and review. Or so ii thought.

First: the envelope that held the tickets did NOT include the pass to photograph ... ii was given permission to photograph the opening songs by those bands which were performing on the Jagermeister (secondary) Stage (MUTINY WITHIN, HAIL THE VILLAIN, NEW MEDICINE, AIRBOURNE, and HELLYEAH).

Second: we were told to pick up our passes elsewhere and were sent on a wild goose chase for almost two hours to a handful of different locations (one person would tell us to go to one place and then after arriving at that particular spot, we were sent to another - this back and forth dance lasted for almost a couple of hours). Keep in mind that SPAC is no small venue but an entertainment center that includes primary and secondary stages, various center dwellings, woodlands, parking lots, etc set on 65 acres within the 2,500 of the Saratoga Spa State Park land.

Third: when asked where was The Rockstar Energy Drink Concession Stand we were directed, on two separate occasions, to the Rockstar UPROAR Lounge where guests/family/etc of the bands & the like gathered to enjoy the festivities. My confusion led me to call The Rockstar Energy Drink's Publicist and leave a semi-frantic message on her voice mail. She later informed me via email (a little bitingly, ii thought at the time) that we did not have permission/access to that area.

Fourth: after finding the "pass-handout-locale", we asked where we needed to be in order to capture what needed to be captured ... we found our way to the band signing tents and a SPAC official (via a security guard's cell) said that's where we had to be. WRONG ... the band handlers booted us from there!

Fifth: after all the needless running back, forth, up, down and around the grounds, ii missed any opportunity to take photos or get a word or two, possibly, with any of the opening bands.

Due to my lack of energy, concentration and ever-growing frustration, ii decided to forgo chasing the opening bands (to be honest, although the acoustic system at SPAC is pretty darn good, ii only heard the last few songs of HELLYEAH).

Okay, enough of my bitching. Now, on to the fun ...!

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

ROCK, ROLL & RAVE!!!

2010-08-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

ROCKSTAR UPROAR FEST - 28 AUG, 2010

True ...

Rockstar Energy Drink is an undeniable treat, a taste bordering on an expensive elixir borne of exotic herbs and home-grown spices with a carbonated twist.

But it isn't expensive at all, especially, when compared to competitors. And it not only tastes good, it also lives up to its namesake. Having 36 hours of no sleep prior to the festival and covering pretty much the span of the SPAC grounds (read prior blog post), ii was exhausted, to say the least, and needed a pick-me-up.

Well, Rockstar Energy Drink more than delivered ... ii was back in the game in no time and was able to review the rest of the show fully alert and feeling fine.

Due to the "press-pass fiasco" at SPAC and thanks to the venue's professional amendment of the situation, ii (sans Jade) was allowed in the pit of the Rockstar (main) Stage to document, alongside other photographers, the opening performances of the closing bands: HALESTORM, STONE SOUR, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, and DISTURBED.

HALESTORM

Hailing from Red Lion, PA, this quartet of two siblings, Lzzy Hale (lead vocals, guitar) and Arejay Hale on drums, plus band members Josh Smith, bassist, and guitarist Joe Hottinger, performed like hard-core veterans although their self-titled debut album was only released last April, in '09.

Her newly-shortened coif did not diminish Lzzy's ability to perform as explosively as she had done before. From the first note to the last sigh, her fervor grew and so did the equalized passion of HALESTORM's devotees. But remember, Miss Hale was not alone in her power to stir the masses ... each one of the bandmates were just as integral.

II was familiar with the radio-laden hit, "I Get Off", and was pleasantly surprised that such a prevalent, quasi-nocuous song could sound fresh, offering more depth sung live than what most "popular" tunes could deliver. Not to play second fiddle, but "It's Not You" (a matter-of-fact, please-don't-let-the-door-hit-you-on-the-way-out type), the "stitching" rhythm of "What Were You Expecting?" (a I-don't-give-a-shit-if-the-door-does-hit-you-on-the-way-out), and the remaining songs were all sung/played with so much heart that they left mine bleeding for more.

By the way, my assistant-of-the-moment, Jade, had heard "I Get Off" on the radio and liked it but didn't know the name of the band. She was happy to have heard them play live at the UPROAR Festival, felt they were the best band of the night and to prove it, purchased their C.D., chasing the merch' person down and securing two musical delights (one for me, of course ( :-D)!

STONE SOUR

On stage, it was as if to be all about the hair ... or the lack, thereof. II remember Corey Taylor, frontman for STONE SOUR, a heavy metal faction from Des Moines, IA, with longer locks, brown and shoulder-length (check out the video "Bother" - one of my favorite songs by the band - and you'll see what ii mean). Mr. Taylor was newly-sheared with a near-bald head practically gleaming under the stage lights ... and at first, ii didn't recognize him ... until he started to sing.

Not so much as sing, but bellowed his way through most of the songs, causing his usually mellow but wind-strong voice to strain, crack under its performance pressure (he did not belie his rep for being a "shout" master). They played a few selections from the yet-to-be-released album, Audio Secrecy (look for it next week, 7 Sept, '10) and some from their previous studio albums: Stone Sour and Come What(ever) May. Sorry, can't tell you which songs were which because they seemed to meld into one, long, continuous piece (Corey appeared to not take a breath and the band seemed, just as against, taking a break between each piece).

But with that being said, he and his bandmates - guitarists Jim Root and Josh Rand, bassist Shawn Economaki, and drummer Roy Mayorga - were a mesmerizing stage act, rallying their fans into a overly-hyped stupor from the inception till the end of their set. The energy by STONE SOUR was contagious, the excitement by the fans was palpable and fun was had by all ... even by me!

AVENGED SEVENFOLD

Because they were one of the bands ii failed to hear in Syracuse the month prior, ii was really looking forward to listening/watching vocalist M. Shadows and his boys put on a show. And, oh boy, did they ever put on a show! Picture this: a body (real) hanging from somewhere up in the rafters, slowly descends to the stage, stopping right above the band and stays there for the full duration of their opening song, "Nightmare", from their fifth album, Nightmare, released earlier this year.

This high-energy, non-stop pulsating single teased the crowds, showcasing that the Huntington Beach, CA, band had not missed a step even though they just came out of a nightmare of their own: the unexpected passing of their original drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, back in December of '09. Every song that followed ("Buried Alive", "Afterlife", "Scream", et al, plus one of my all-time faves, "Almost Easy") was played with just as much spirited aplomb and attuned accuracy that the temporary(?) addition of drummer, Mike Portnoy (from DREAM THEATER), was one which kept AVENGED SEVENFOLD's sound of traditional heavy metal with a progressive slant in tact. Not to be out-performed by M. Shadows' gift at the mic, lead & rhythm guitarists Synyster Gates & Zacky Vengeance, respectively, plus bassist Johnny Christ, individually and collectively shined delivering performances worthy of rock & roll archival sustainment.

II want/must/need to see them perform again and again. And again. Because they put on a show that was that freakin' AWESOME!!

PS: Jade and ii could not stay to review DISTURBED but ii have them on my radar and will do so the next time ii get a chance.

Until the next time, take care and ROCK ON!!

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010
all rights reserved
FOOTNOTE: the picture quality is crap, ii know, but bear with me for ii am in the process of getting a new and improved camera (fingers crossed ( :-D)!

ROCK, ROLL & RESCUE!

2010-08-03T02:31:00.000-07:00

K-ROCKATHON 15 - 31 JULY, 2010

Last week started off as one of those weeks where nothing, and ii mean nothing, seemed to be going right. It was a week of pains, pricks, nurses, and needles plus the realization that my health was taking a turn for the worst. And to make things even moreso,
ii missed a couple of critical deadlines (ie: did not get paid).

So, to say ii was feeling like crap by the time the weekend came around is an understatement. But after moaning and groaning about being exhausted, broke and without a vehicle, my assistant-of-the-moment, Namalia, reminded me that we had to be in Syracuse the next day, Saturday, the 31st, for the K-ROCKATHON 15 where twelve up-and-coming and already-arrived bands of the moment were slated to play (an annual event sponsored by the following stations in Northern New York State: WKRL-K100.9 in Syracuse, WKRH-K106.5 in Oswego and Utica's addition, K-ROCK 94.9). On the ticket were a few of my own personal faves: HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, FLYLEAF (the only band which ii previously reviewed live, a couple of months prior), ALL THAT REMAINS, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, & HALESTORM. Rounding out the twelve were LIMP BIZKIT, ED KOWALCZYK (formerly of LIVE), A DAY TO REMEMBER, SMILE EMPTY SOUL, CRASH KINGS, NEW POLITICS, & HAIL THE VILLAIN.

After much begging on Namalia's part, ii decided to go even though we had no official transportation (that was her job to secure). She looked up time schedules and we were booked on the first train out of Rensselaer, a neighboring town of Albany, for the three-hour ride to Syracuse. Well, that train was over two hours late leaving and then half way there, it slowed and then stopped for about another hour to let double freight trains past. Our original arrival time of 1:45 was shot to hell and we didn't arrive until 4:30pm. The performances began at 11am and we had missed, approxiamately, half of the bands. II was frustrated but not totally pissed since two of my faves had yet to play, FLYLEAF & AVENGED SEVENFOLD, and one was currently getting ready to play, HALESTORM.

Namalia and Sameer Bhattacharya

Decided to take a cab since the bus that took you directly to the New York State Fairgrounds wouldn't be leaving for another 40 minutes. Taking that cab was the worst decision that day. First cab in line at the station is the first one to leave so we got in that one. The cabbie said the fair would be $20 but it wasn't that far and ii'd get there in time to see the current act. Great! Until ii noticed ii had forgotten my memory card and my camera's own memory was full so ii really needed one. Asked him to stop at the mall that was on the way and asked him the price. "Another five dollars plus the twenty", he said. Okay, stop. "That'll be another $5 on top of that since you didn't tell me quicker." Huh? Blah, blah, blah ... he started yelling for more money and ii started yelling "no way!" Paid him eight, got out at the mall and ii forgot the camera in his backseat. The driver returned it an hour later (was still at the mall trying to track him down), cracked, broken and no longer usable (of course, didn't realize this until after ii purchased a new memory card and ii'm pretty sure he broke it). Wanted to go back home and take a nap. Difficult to review and advertise a rock concert with no means of taking pictures. Now it's going on 6 o'clock. Called a different cab service (seems like there's only two in that area of Syracuse). Nice guy who got us to the fest just as the alcohol started to soak through the pores and clothing of the painless. Get to gate and we're not on guest list. Initially. Took some time to check things out and thanks to Nixon, we were allowed on the grounds.

Joe Hottinger, Namalia and Lzzy Hale

Hadn't been to a fest like that in years and Namalia had never been to one before. We made our way across the vast grounds to the two stages in the rear. And as we made our way, we were jostled, fondled and groped so much that ii took a pregancy test afterwards (lol).

(you know who) and Lacey Sturm

Okay, ii've got to shorten this up because ii'm getting another migraine just thinking about it. The long and short of it is we only got there in time enough to hear the last two or three songs by AVENGED SEVENFOLD (completely missing HALESTORM), the full FLYLEAF set, and the first song by LIMP BIZKIT (the last band of the evening). Boo hoo! II was beyond frazzled by the time we got behind the stages.

some fellow ROCKERS!

Why do ii do this shit? Because, in the midst of all the problems, people like Sameer Bhattacharya (lead guitarist), who prayed for and with us, and Lacey Sturm of FLYLEAF, Lzzy Hale (lead vocals, keyboard, guitar) & Joe Hottinger (guitar, back vocals) of HALESTORM, who hugged us so sincerely, without any presumptions, plus the fellow rockers, all made that day worthwhile even though we missed, practically, the whole show. But what we did catch, was awesome and did not disappoint. Everyone behind-the-scenes (including workers, volunteers, merchants, security, etc) and those on stage put on a safe, fun and thoroughly entertaining event. II enjoyed it, in spite of everything.

We left before the final act finished and due to my assistant - who read the online schedule wrong - we had a nine-hour wait for the first bus (not train because that would've been an additional three hours), and by the time ii got home, ii felt like a pretzel. But my spirits were still on high and, as always, it was the music and its people that were the cause ... music has a way of rescuing you, don't you think?

PS: the few pics were taken with my crappy phone cam (better than nothing, eh?).

QUICKSAND - "Fazer"

2010-06-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a band that should've, would've, could've - so sad they didn't :-(

NO JUNK HERE

2010-05-28T03:08:00.000-07:00

OKAY, let's begin this as close to the beginning as possible because to tickle and tease you with the mundane facts about why ii, personally, despise a particular place would be torturous for me to write and for you to read. But here goes: ii absolutely abhor (without an ounce of compassion) the "city" of Poughkeepsie which is "nestled" (ii cringe at the use of such a pretty word) in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York! Now, with that being said, onto the reason ii found myself being lured to such deplorable surroundings: it was for the M*U*S*I*C. The music, and the music alone, made the trip worthwhile

(and quite enjoyable ( :-D)!

MY co-hort, Lisa Jane (by the way, she can't stand "PO'K" either ... so there), drove and ii folded myself (literally) into her blue, two-door sports car and we made our way 1.5 hours south from our starting point of Albany (additional blah-ging/pics about our adventurous day can be found ~~here~~). We arrived at The Chance Theater (Monday night, the 24th of May) as the mercury rose to the 90's (May weather?), making the trip more arduous, to say the least.

Now onto the music ...

THERE were four bands: JUNKET, SUGAR RED DRIVE, FAIR TO MIDLAND, and FLYLEAF (the headliners). Like most people who crammed into the sweaty mouth of The Chance, ii was there to see/hear FLYLEAF. But after perusing You Tube, beforehand, and finding a couple of videos about JUNKET, ii wanted to hear them play, too.

* * * JUNKET * * *

SINCE this is a blahg of quasi-beginnings, ii'll start towards the middle with the band members unloading their equipment from their vans (no tour bus yet). II met a "Christian Palmer" who said he was one of the band's guitarists but was not playing that night because he was sick (ii knew before meeting them that there were only four members, not five, but ii decided to play along ... ii get bored easily and needed a distraction, however slight, from the heat & my anxieties which were on overdrive).

BUT enough of this crap-ass preamble ... when the actual musicians mounted the stage, their instruments cocked (insert joke here) and ready, the audience was starving for a great opening to a promising night. And the local band, JUNKET, from Newburgh (NY), did not disappoint. With the correct marketing (that goes without saying), they are destined to be the next superstars of the Hard Rock Genre. II say these words with an experienced ear towards that world and am no push-over when it comes to identifying hard-edged talent. And these guys have it ... ten-fold!!

JUNKET, left to right: MIKE MILLER, CHRIS WICHER, EVAN SANTORO, CHAD BABCOCK

THE lead vocalist, Chris Wicher, is handsome, energetic and exudes a confident magnetism that anyone would envy. His stellar voice which he used to its fullest capacity as he sang "Never Enough" & "One Nation Under Attack" (one of my faves), was only matched by his bravado and those edgy yet catchy lyrics. You'd be amiss if you thought Chris was the only good-looking superstar in this band. II especially liked Chad Babcock's drumming (the foundation in any "type" of rock band) as his beats grew in obstinacy. In addition, what use is a foundation without the walls? ... those which are built by the bass and its grounding, angst-ridden tones. II could hardly recall - until later that night - who handled those specific strings better than Evan Santoro. Would never forget about the lead guitarist, Mike Miller, who expertly equaled Chris' vocals with his own tonal explorations.

TO say ii'm a fan, does not do these rising stars (or my own ideas of self-grandeur) any justice ... it's too simple of a concept ... but let's face it ... there's nothing better than a rock band that, SIMPLY, knows how to ROCK. And these guys are THE REAL DEAL (who would've thunk it that ii'd like JUNKET? ... please forgive me, it's 3 o'clock in the darn morn)!!!

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

one band down and three to go ...

SWEETLY DRIVEN

2010-05-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

RIGHT after each band completed its set, and during the removal of their instruments from The Chance Theater, ii would go outside to, hopefully, commandeer the band members together in one spot in order to take a "formal" photo (the taking of pictures was not allowed inside the theater ... although ii saw many people ignoring this rule, ii did not). II snapped a couple of JUNKET pics and because ii felt their set was a very good indication of music-to-come, ii was antsy and couldn't wait to re-enter in order to listen to the next band on the itinerary: SUGAR RED DRIVE.

* * * SUGAR RED DRIVE * * *

HOWEVER, after ii went back in and found my "spot", my disappoint in what ii was hearing, initially, was palpable. The lead singer sounded like he had marbles in his mouth, muffling groans between sounds that attempted to sound less like the squeaks that they were (imagine Billy Ocean(?) being strangled while singing "Carribean Queen" or, better yet, Bob Marley trying to perform "Three Little Birds" while being propositioned in a prison shower after he dropped his soap). A little harsh, you say? Well, you weren't attacked audibly like ii was ... and the ringing in my ear, still, has yet to completely wane.

SUGAR RED DRIVE: JIM KNAUSS, ARCHIT TRIPATHI, DAVE ALEXANDER, P.J. GASPERINI

BUT, thank GOD, they got better. Much, much better. My understanding is that they had technical difficulties and the first 2 songs were awash. The Poughkeepsie (NY)-based band, SUGAR RED DRIVE, got their act together by the third song and were on their way to changing my initial mindset. II perked up when they justifiably covered "Man In The Box" by ALICE IN CHAINS. The lead singer, Archit Tripathi, is a captivating but enigmatic performer - not sharing all the details, tightly keeping secrets and singing with a precise ambiguity. During a couple of songs, his voice seemed too mellow for the power his band members generated all around him. Drummer P.J. Gasperini, bassist Dave Alexander, and lead guitarist Jim Knauss seemed to fill in what Archit sometimes left out. Technical problems, notwithstanding, this band is on their way to a heightened form of success but only if they can stay consistent.

SOMETIMES raw talent is hard to identify but the "it factor" never is ... and these guys have an abundance of both. Want proof? Listen to SUGAR RED DRIVE's "Red Machine" and "One More Time" for that alternative, sharp rock that will have you coming back for more. Or for a slower song, but no more less acute, try "In My Head" (my personal fave ... thus far).

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

onward ...

MUCH MORE THAN FAIR

2010-05-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

THERE'S a certain hue of blue that descends upon the night ... a tint caught between shades of black and an intense navy. And as it blankets the last remnants of dusk, a sort of calm obliterates - though only temporarily - those things seen in the glare of the day's light (a mellowing, if you will). However, it does not possess that power over sound ... it cannot erase, mask or muffle "noise" or anything that settles harshly upon the ears. In fact, it is the night which improves one's audio receptors.

And that can be a bad thing. Or a good one ...

* * * FAIR TO MIDLAND * * *

II'm nocturnal by nature and live for the nighttime. Most of my creative juices are squeezed out between the hours of 6pm and 6am, so ii started to become more alive around mid-evening as ii headed back into The Chance Theater to listen to the third band on Monday night's schedule. The band from Dallas (TX), FAIR TO MIDLAND, was already heavily into their second song when ii made my way to the back of the theater, behind a massive amount of drunk, semi-drunk, yet-to-be-drunk, wanna-be-drunk-but-i-forgot-my-fake-i.d. people. II compressed my ass between two others on the only seating offered in the main part of the theater and settled in to listen, and only listen, to the band play (ii was too far back behind too many people to see them perform).

FROM the onslaught, FAIR TO MIDLAND'S energy was contagious and as it snaked its way through the club, wrapping itself around everyone, it caused uncontrollable mid-song spasms, screams and bounties of "oh my god, they f***in' rock!"; "holy shit, what the f*** was that?"; "they're f***in' awesome ... woo hoo!!!" (and so on and so forth). Not for you to be misguided, ii was responsible for saying the same things, too.

OKAY, here's what ii "witnessed": ii heard one singer (the lead, ii presumed), in complete control of his mid-level falsetto, an extremely melodic instrument in which he used to its forlorn capacity on songs like "Walls of Jericho" and "Dance of the Manatee". Then another singer (again, a presumption), with a different underlying vibrato to his voice, would scream like a woman giving birth before dropping a few octaves into a slight, gutter-like baritone before quickly being over-taken, again and again, by his band-mate's harmonious voice. Of course, ii was a little dismayed when ii found out that the lead singer, Darroh Sudderth, was just one and not two individual vocalists. Not to be outdone, his orchestra's - ii mean band's - precise and highly intricate instrumentals did not overshadow, but succeeded in enhancing Mr. Sudderth's gifted performance. The band: Cliff Campbell, lead guitar; Brett Stowers, drums; Matt Langley, keys; and Jon Dicken on bass (with Darroh at the mike) can now, officially, be called "The Performance Kings of Progressive Metal"! Indeed, a heavy metallic goodness was left on my tongue and ii thoroughly enjoyed the taste!!

Darn, it was an awesomely good night!!!

Unfortunately, ii could not rally the band together for a formal pic but the next time ii see them in concert (and there will be a next time), ii'll be more diligent in securing a photo.

(lack of) photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

drum roll please ( :-D) ...

ALL THAT II DREAMED?

2010-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

AN awesomely good night (dare ii say?) got awesomely better ... FLYLEAF ... woo hoo!
Unlike the prior bands, ii was familiar with the hard-edged but idyllic recordings of this quintet from Belton & Temple, TX. II'm biased, ii must admit. But don't let my pre-love for their music fool you. It's an exceptional dynamic that one can sound great on a CD plus deliver the goods "live" (it's the magic wand acquired by many producers whose job it is to "tweak/improve" vocals and instrumentals
when nature fails to do so). Ergo, a platinum-selling record does not make a platinum-performing/sounding artist. II also must admit that ii went in with low expectations because of this very reason: a lot of artists/musicians/bands lose "it" when having to function in front of an audience. But not so with these guys.

* * * FLYLEAF * * *

FIRST of all, they're not all guys. Lacey Mosley (Sturm), the lead singer, is a classic but modern-day renaissance woman ... however, don't mistake her wide-eyed look of innocence as one of an ingenue (displaced and unknowing). She's a woman who sings with conviction, as well as, heart. And whose own passion for what she believes encompasses every fiber of her being (a rarity in this world of conformity). She is a Christian (as are the other band members) but her words and their music are not just for the enlightened. There is no discrimination, hate, or unbridled angst found among their lyrics and when Mrs. Sturm roars out one of those cheese-curdling screams, it's not out of anger but out of a need to showcase the power of her fervor.

Pat Seals, the bassist, is an eccentric fireball of unsurpassed energy as he effortlessly jumped, no soared, up onto and down off of a platform built just for that particular task. His bass playing, not without cause, greatly over-powered the limelight of his over-all performance. One to give him a run for the money in his energetic and exceptional string playing was the lead guitarist, Sameer Bhattacharya. Now dubbed "mosquito man" because of his fast-paced, quick-change string adulation as he would, at fastidious intervals, pull out a cello bow and placate the guitar strings like an over-sized violin before returning them to their "rightful" position of being plucked. The rhythm guitarist, Jared Hartmann, was fun to watch, too. His head-bob is one of uncontrollable infrangibility and should be patented since he does it to perfection as was his guitar playing. As you may not know, ii believe the drums (& bass) are the foundation of any rock genre and without them, it's just not rock. James Culpepper, FLYLEAF's drummer, takes his job seriously. Not once did he drop a beat or fail to rhythmically support his fellow members as they performed with heartfelt bravado. He has a certain style that's magnificent to watch (another drummer, Shannon Larkin of GODSMACK, also comes to mind).

FLYLEAF: PAT SEALS, JARED HARTMANN, SAMEER BHATTACHARYA, LACEY MOSLEY-STURM, JAMES CULPEPPER

THEIR set opened with "In The Dark" (one of my personal faves) from their latest studio release, Memento Mori, setting an uplifting but heavily rock tone that continued through to the end of the night. Every song, including "Chasm" (another fave), "I'm So Sick" (and another), "Treasure" (yep ... another ( :-D), were played and sung better than any pale-like recording. Exaggeration is not a gift ii own so when ii say that they were uber-awesome, they were uber-freakin'-awesome!! Proof: ii was mired in the thick of their fans, being touched & jostled by strangers (ii have Aphenphosmphobia ... among other crap), standing on legs meant to bend at all times, sweating like a rain forest, and not once did any of my pains flare up, my psychosis rise out of its slumber, or my attitude drop into a black chasm (yes, ii already knew the meaning ... so there). Their performance was so acute that ii forgot that ii had those aforementioned ailments and was able to just enjoy the show!

OH yes, not only was ii mesmerized by their stage presence, their God-given gifts/talents, but ii was equally captivated by their beauty. Not one of them had a pore. What the hell is that about? Well, after being "envious" of all their blessings, you can listen to "Arise" to feel better about your lot, for this line is one of the best: "arise ... and be ... all that you dreamed ...!"

And when Lacey sang those words towards the end of the night,
ii believed them ... wholeheartedly ... and was ready for a new day.
A new me ... a better me ...
an accomplished, happy dream-seeking me.
But then the next morning came ... and well ... you know ( ;-D).

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

but before you go...

AN APPRECIATION

2010-05-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

II love words.

II'm a wordy person (ii'm a writer so ii'm allowed).

But no amount of carefully-chosen declarations can equal
the succinct beauty of this one:

THANK YOU !!!

SO, ii want to thank all those who made that night (24 May, 2010) possible for the hard-working parents and their gregarious offspring; the singles, the couples & the threesomes; the sobers, the drunks and all "others" in between: THE CHANCE THEATER and its employees which kept the club rocking and all who attended, safe. Specific shout-outs go to Jessica, Kyle (not shown), Dominik and Mike (Big Daddy)!

the quality sucks ass but
you guys rock!!!

The road crew, Sean Haberhorn, Sean Fulton and Sarah Maiello (not shown), for WRRV Radio 92.7/96.9.

ON a personal note, ii thank FLYLEAF and their awesome technical/behind-the-scenes team (you know who you are) for extending me the courtesy to review these fantastic artists.

Thank you Mrs. Gale

and Mr. Vinyard

Thanx Pat for spelling my name correctly :-)

A salutation to my good friend, Lisa Jane, for driving and who became a new fan of FLYLEAF ... and to Dave Skura, an old fan of theirs but a new friend of ours (L.J. & ii).

Dave & Lisa Jane got to touch them (at least Sameer) ... lucky girl!!

THANX to P.J. Gasperini for being so open about SUGAR RED DRIVE
and to Archit Tripathi for signing below:

Nice meeting Soprano, the bullmastiff
(sorry, didn't get the "dad's" name).

and most importantly, THANK YOU GOD, for granting me another day ... and as ii always say: "LORD, You do Your job and if You bless me with another day,

ii'll do my job and make it a great one."

(or at the very least, try not to strangle anyone).

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

A MINDFUL MATTER

2010-05-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

IF a benefit for a particular establishment is done correctly, then the remnants of that aforesaid institution or concern will be ingrained in the minds of those patrons who thought it worthy enough to dust themselves off after a long day, trek from their comforts; dig deep into their shallow pockets and fork over just enough money to deem themselves "benefactors"; and to shmooze & booze with those they would never ponder on any other given day. These supporters are also sufficiently educated to understand that the special night is simply for the espousal and rememberance of that business and not, necessarily, for the entertainment.

CASE in point: the band ENDSWELL.

AS one of the night's musical amusements, the trio ENDSWELL,
was able to pack nearly a full hour with their upbeat, pop/rock tunes and not put anyone into a premature stupor (yours truly, included). However, there's not much more ii can say. Though ii found my foot tapping and my head swaying to their beats, on a few occasions, ii couldn't recall anything spectacular or in particular that made me want to hear more. Granted, it was not a night to put the band(s) on a pedestal (that location was strictly reserved for TESS' LARK TAVERN - a beloved Albany establishment - which suffered great fire damage the beginning of this month), but Andrew Gregory (lead vocals / rhythm guitar), I.A. (bass), & Dave Teta (drums / back vocals) could've made more of an effort to make a better and lasting impression.

      OUTSIDE   of their music   being
borderline-forgetful,  they possessed
no   self-promotion info. And when ii googled their name, a handful of bands with the same or extremely similar name (i.e: Endwell) popped up. But none of these other namesakes consisted of the convivial men ii met that night ... and who, if given the opportunity, ii would like to meet again ... maybe at one of their own benefits (to help support a band in desperate need of marketing support). And maybe, just maybe, that night would hold the atmosphere in which ii could garner an appreciation for their music and more data about the group instead of the pittance ii was able to lasso this past Saturday: they've been together for a total of 2 years but played acousticly for the first.

<= left to right:

I.A., DAVE TETA, ANDREW GREGORY

ALSO performing that night (but ii didn't get to hear/see) were the bands The Erotics and The Boners (okay, you know ii'm curious
about that one ( :-D) !

This Benefit was held at The Marketplace Gallery,
40 Broadway, Suite 23, Albany, NY.

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

THAT NIGHT OF HARMONIOUS DISSONANCE

2010-05-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

II am not of want to spend my precious moments tethered to, bound by and in the company of those who set out to numb, confuse and dismantle ... but alas, ii found myself in that particular predicament, initially, when ii agreed to critique a small "experimental rock" show at the UAG last night. The sporadic rain and constant chill didn't discourage me (and a handful of others) from making that Wednesday night a rocking precursor

to the weekend.

THE night began with two guys, Philip Ashley (bass) and Patrick Parker (guitar), who listed themselves on the event flier as "Synthesized Noise Mongerers" (they did not dissappoint in that description) under the name of PRAYER TOWN. Produced with electronic synthesizers, their "set" was less of individual, discernable "songs", but more of a single, ever-rising crescendo that crashed and burned before quickly ascending to a mid-point note that was drawn out so long that ii noticed the audience fighting the urge to drop to the floor, curl up and sleep it off (when you wait too long for a beat to end, it's no longer a beat).

AS we well know, labelization is a way of life. But how do you fit the undefinable into a specified package? Simply: you can't. And shouldn't.

TO begin, think Beastie Boys, circa 1989 (after their "right to party"), with a touch of bravado but not yet with that maturing sight on political realization that would eventually stain their lyrics; then move onto an underlying, multi-cultural layer of Marley (as he "shot the sheriff") and Duran Duran, as they engulfed the early to mid 80's, snaring similiar quasi-rock bands, such as Talking Heads and Dire Straits, into their fold; then end on Yoko Ono's heel, with the introduction of the bass and guitar, on that aformentioned "beat/note" (whatchamacallit) that continued, unexpectedly, into a musical discoursement of anti-symphonic measure.

WHAT does that mean ... how the hell should ii know? II barely understood the music! II'm either too old or too sober to fully appreciate what PRAYER TOWN was trying to convey. Nevertheless, on some 4th-dimensional level, ii got it. Kinda. However, my confusion notwithstanding, ii was thoroughly and utterly entertained and would pay (a small fee - a very small fee :-) to experience it again. Truly, ii am intrigued by their message ... whatever it may be!

<= PHILIP ASHLEY & PATRICK PARKER

THE first audio attack by KEIR NEURINGER ("Solo Saxophone Improvisation") did not distinguish itself much from that of Prayer Town since it, too, was mired in melodious aspirations for which electricity was needed (emiting sounds akin to angry dolphins playing). Ironically, ii was lulled into - notsomuch a trance, so to speak - but an effortless state of being (a road trip with E.T. driving, ii in the passenger seat with my right foot on the cusp of the sill, and KEIR's music blaring from the radio comes to mind). And just when ii thought ii had his sound figured out and "labeled", an awesome surprise happened: he pulled out his saxophone (please, no jokes ;-) and started to, not "blow", but softly conjole the instrument into arguing, crying and laughing (much like what a violin is famous for doing). How does a sax sound so unlike one educated in traditional jazzy coverings and undertones? Ask KEIR for he knows the secret and ii'm happy he decided to share it with the lot of us.

KEIR NEURINGER =>

IT took the last duo, aptly named PRICE/TRUMP DUO, to forgo the electronic synthesizers and completely play old school instruments (K.G. Price on drums and T. Andrew Trump on electric guitar). K.G. drummed like a soldier boy who lost his innocence ... not to war, itself ... but by the notion of its existence: slow, vibrant beats that grew in urgency - his arms, hands seeming to swat at anything that might've landed within his confort zone - and then the rhythm descended, briefly, before angrily reclaiming its rightful place among other beats that had the audacity to call themselves, pure and unapologetic, "rock". Mr. PRICE also wove words, poetically speaking, throughout his torrential drumming while being accompanied on guitar by Mr. TRUMP. Not once did T. Andrew let a K.G. beat die without the company of his winding notes matching them as they rose, fell and rose again. He was seated, for the most part, but would all of a sudden seem to have a kinipsion fit - jumping out of his seat and stomping his foot on the various controls of the effects (efx) pedals that were at his feet. His energy was contagious. II simply loved it.

<= K. G. PRICE &
T. ANDREW TRUMP

NO thinly-veiled attempt will be made to sum up artists who strive to simplify their complexities ... and the artwork borne of that struggle. All-in-all, each performer was awesome in his own right and ii look forward to hearing them again.

MAYBE ii'm not too old or too sober, after all ( ;-D)!

photos/text (c) kvkhai 2010

THAT NIGHT ... (con't)

2010-05-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

Sam Sebren of WGXC/90.7 FM was on hand to record audio
of the performances and you may sample the music over there.

PLUS more photos of that night can be found in the aptly named
Photo Albums

on my FACEBOOK and MYSPACE Pages.

WELCOME TO MEW SICK LAND!!

2010-05-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

ii know, ii know ... "not another blog, k.v." ... ii hear you but this one is really, really needed (in my humble opinion ( :-D) because ii'll be writing more and more reviews about local (& not-so-local) bands, shows, concerts, etc.

Previous blogs containing music reviews will be re-routed here. Present and future audio excursions will also find a home
OUTSIDE THE CLEF.

so enjoy the festivities ... ii know ii will!