The Buddhahood “The Space” Self-released facebook.com/buddhahoodmusic The Buddhahood went through some shifts here and there after its beloved leader, Tony Cavagnaro, passed in 2007, yet it endured. Today the lineup is solid and better than ever, in particular in the horns, which lay down a deep shag and groove on the band’s latest recording, “The […]
FRANK DE BLASE
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Album review: ‘Nowhere in Time’
Richie & Rosie “Nowhere in Time” Self-released richieandrosie.com “Nowhere in Time” doesn’t drop until sometime in November, but I felt compelled to let you in on it now so you can clear your calendar. What I particularly dig abut Richie & Rosie’s new CD is the room; you can hear the walls as they take […]
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ROCK | Revolver
Revolver Revolver was a popular band in Rochester starting back in the mid-1970’s. The band covers songs from the 60’s and 70’s, in particular The Beatles. Now I’ll be honest: I’m not too much for endorsing cover bands, but Revolver has Don Mancuso (Black Sheep, D-Drive) on guitar, and I love watching him grin as […]
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ROCKABILLY/BLUES | McKinley James
McKinley James Watching Mckinley James play guitar is like watching a time-lapse film loop; every goddamn time I see him, I swear he gets better and better. Although a mere 15 years old, James digs deep into rock ‘n’ roll’s blackness and blueness. He plays downright nasty and mean. This kid is the second coming […]
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Album Review: ‘Fresh Cut’
Grease Creepers “Fresh Cut” Self-released greasecreepers.bandcamp.com Here’s a slab of pure, badass, American psychobilly. The Grease Creepers keep up with the style’s reverb-drowning, bass-slappin,’ guitar-twangin,’ Bigsby-bangin,’ snare drum-bashin’ aesthetic. On “Fresh Cut,” Grease Creepers’ 13-track debut, the Rochester band sounds a lot like classic Cramps with its bravado and tight pants strut and preen. Now […]
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Album Review: ‘Lilac Drive’
Evan Meulemans “Lilac Drive” Self-released evansongs.bandcamp.com If Evan Meulemans’ excellent new album, “Lilac Drive,” only contained the opening track, “Wisconsin,” it would be great — it would leave you wanting more. But the song has a beautiful build-up that leads into the down-stroke guitar joy of the next cut, “Some of My Time,” a tune […]
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Album Review: ‘… It Came From Lake Ontario’
RoarShark “… It Came From Lake Ontario” Self-released roarshark.com If you don’t include the three-eyed-fish-inhabited, film-developing waters of Lake Ontario, then let’s face it, Rochester is hopelessly land-locked. But for some reason, this town has an inordinately high number of surf bands. At the top of the pile is RoarShark and its new album “… […]
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Album Review: ‘Miss Leading, Phil and the Danish Wedge’
The Chinchillas “Miss Leading, Phil and the Danish Wedge” Jargon Records facebook.com/thechinchillasrochester It feels like I grew up on The Chinchillas, Rochester rock ‘n’ roll’s answer to the Swiss Army Knife. The boys have shown up again with a brand new one, “Miss Leading, Phil and the Danish Wedge.” I swear they just had a […]
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ALBUM REVIEW: “Skeletal Remains”
Melia “Skeletal Remains” Self-released meliarocks.com Melia’s new album, “Skeletal Remains,” is a fabulous slab of rock ‘n’ roll beauty and brutality that doesn’t necessarily defy classification, but does make it a little difficult. Melia skates the razor — always has — between metal speed, hard rock gravel and grind, and a dusting of pop sugar. […]
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Album Review: “Another Storm”
Dan Eaton “Another Storm” Self-released facebook.com/Daneatonband The rock ‘n’ roll as food metaphor is alive and steamin’ on Dan Eaton’s new platter, “Another Storm,” a super solo outing without The Dan Eaton Band. Just take some driving guitar, Eaton’s trademark lackadaisical vocal delivery, songs that sing, ring, and swing, and a crew of Austin, Texas, […]
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Music Review: “Shake”
Gary Holt “Shake” Self-released It seems like just yesterday we were talking about Gary Holt’s first CD, “Because I Can.” Well, apparently this legendary local producer has a plethora of material banging around in his head that he wants to get out, because in less than a year, here he is with numero two: “Shake.” […]
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ALBUM REVIEW: “Sticky Mittens”
Watkins and the Rapiers “Sticky Mittens” All Time Records rapiers.org Who wouldn’t like to have their stocking stuffed with this salute to a cool Yule? Watkins and the Rapiers is a brilliant wisenheimer ensemble of musical mirth — just dig the Rolling Stones-inspired cover starring Dick “Tripod” Storms. On “Sticky Mittens,” the band proves it can […]
