Julia Nunes ‘Ughwow’ Rude Butler Records julianunes.com/ughwow Compared to previous outings, a break-up record is not really something you’d expect from Fairport native and singer-songwriter Julia Nunes. But there’s a pervasive melancholy coming out of this artist, pouring out, really. It’s a little unexpected from a songwriter who is generally known to couch her lyrics […]
Frank De Blase
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BLUES | George Thorogood with Cedric Burnside
George Thorogood and his band, The Delaware Destroyers, have been laying it down thick and mean since 1975. George Thorogood is an 11th-hour bluesman, riding on the coattails of legends like Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Hound Dog Taylor — the musician who is most influential on Thorogood’s rough ‘n’ tumble gutbucket guitar sound. […]
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SOUL | Gedeon Luke and the People
Just as sly as Sly and twice as funky, Gedeon Luke and the People bring it from the soul…the Memphis soul. And there’s some church in there, as joyously exemplified by the breakneck breakdowns they frequently cop to, adding some old-time religion to the band’s R&B. Gedeon Luke and the People and Josh Shapiro open […]
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The F Word: Corn Hill can-can and Pentecostal caterwaulin’
It was a gorgeous day this past Saturday at the Corn Hill Arts Festival, as I made my way through the throng to catch some bands at the Gazebo Stage. Vanishing Sun was onstage challenging the real sun as it dappled the crowd beneath the shade. Lead singer Zahyia — dressed like a steampunk can-can girl — had the […]
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Album review: ‘Die Alone’
Great Red ‘Die Alone’ Self-released greatred.bandcamp.com Seemingly out of an astute nothingness comes the clever buildup. It’s a buildup that sits patiently with the listeners hanging around Great Red’s bullpen. The new EP, “Die Alone” exemplifies restraint, with the promise of a rather stark psychedelia right around the corner and in your face. Though the […]
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Ryan Flynn releases new electro-pop EP
He calls it “space pop.” Ryan Cullinane is a Rochester-based electronic artist who soaks his sound in ethereal, new-wavey gravy and effervescent possibilities. It’s inescapable, it’s catchy. And a July 19 show at Radio Social will celebrate the release of a new EP under the moniker Ryan Flynn.
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Album review: ‘Mixed Messages’
Bob Bunce and Rural Delivery ‘Mixed Messages’ Mr. Big Tune Records bobbunce.com I’ve always enjoyed Bob Bunce’s music, and I salute the off-the-grid defiance flag he flies. He’s an affable dude with no pretense or animosity. But on his new CD with Rural Delivery, “Mixed Messages,” he’s copped a bit of a sinister slant. I […]
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Album review: ‘Everything in Between’
Stavo ‘Everything in Between’ Self-released stavomusic.com Stavo is a band that moves beyond the 90’s hard rock it plays, stylistically and actually. To have it make sense, you’d have to add a few more years to the celebrated decade — like, say, 19911 or 19912. And even then it would be hard to paint this […]
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Interview: Nikki Hill
I once referred to Nikki Hill as being stiletto-sharp and bouffant-cool after she handed me my head the first time I heard her at the Dinosaur BBQ. Like Ali, she floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee. Hill will return to Rochester for a July 17 show at Abilene Bar & Lounge.
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The F Word: Buckcherry and the jazz jones
After nine days and over a thousand miles staggered and stumbled throughout the East End, it was time for Frank to get some of the jazz juice jitters out of his joints and re-up the necessary amount of rock ‘n’ roll that runs through his bloodstream.
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Jazz Festival 2019, Day 9: Frank reviews Acoustic Alchemy and Joey DeFrancesco
The alchemy began with the opening salvos of Acoustic Alchemy and its powerful performance. The band made wide-sweeping strokes across the canvas. Just when you thought they were going to break free stylistically, they’d pitch an elegant U-turn back to their roots and the thrill at hand. The big crack-up came along when the outfit […]
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Jazz Festival 2019, Day 8: Frank reviews The Suitcase Junket, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, and Steve Miller Band
Attention dear readers: This is Jeff Spevak. Frank offered to mow my lawn for a month if I’d write his blog entry tonight. Besides, how hard can it be? He learned everything from reading me and Raymond Chandler. Downright sinister So after blasting over the Jazz 90.1 airwaves, I waited two hours to see New […]
