It’s nice to see that metalheads can still transcend national borders. Born out of a correspondence between UK-based guitarist Jack Simmons and Russian vocalist Alex Shikolai, Slaughter to Prevail is a European deathcore outfit that speaks the universal language of “really heavy mosh parts.” Its latest record, this year’s “Misery Sermon,” is a confident collection […]
Music
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Tenor of the times
When David Murray was growing up in Berkeley in the late 1960’s, the Bay Area was a fertile place for music. Groups like Sly and the Family Stone and The Whispers were emerging from the region, and Murray’s own home was overflowing with melodies. His mother was a pianist and music director at the family’s […]
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The RPO’s 2016-17 season in review
CITY’s classical music critics recap the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2016-17 season
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Classical review: RPO performs ‘La Boheme’
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director Ward Stare rose to prominence as Principal Trombone for Lyric Opera of Chicago. Here in the Flower City, he has made a conscious effort to perform operatic works in their entirety. On Thursday, when the RPO performed Giacomo Puccini’s beloved “La Bohรจme,” the result was unsettled at first, but ultimately […]
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CLASSICAL/OPERA | RPO performs “La Bohème”
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will close its 2016-17 Philharmonics series in grand style, with one of the most crowd-pleasing, enduring works in the operatic canon: Giacomo Puccini’s “La Bohème.” RPO Music Director Ward Stare will lead a strong cast of dynamic singers, including Inna Dukach as the seamstress Mimi; Harold Meers as her lover, the […]
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ROCK | Cage The Elephant
This band has really nice dynamics between its rhythmic sprinkle and its speed on the straightaways. Although there’s an overall emo overcast to the songs, Cage The Elephant is a good time. I discovered this all from listening to its records — not live like I did last year where the sound in the venue […]
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Album review: ‘Meditations on Freedom’
Noah Preminger “Meditations on Freedom” Dry Bridge Records noahpreminger.com Many people had strong reactions to the recent presidential election. The response of one of the nation’s top young saxophonist’s comes in the form of music. Noah Preminger’s “Meditations on Freedom” is a collection of tunes that evoke and react to the current political climate in […]
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AMERICANA | Lee Harvey Osmond
Yup, it’s Lee Harvey Osmond, he of Blackie and The Rodeo Kings fame. You’ve seen the show bills that Osmond’s sinister mug turns into wanted posters as he stares you down. Well, I’m here to tell you the sinister is real as it slowly permeates with a lost ache out of his music and into […]
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HIP-HOP | Chance the Rapper
Who knew that getting suspended from high school for 10 days would land you a successful career in hip-hop? Six years ago, Chicago-based rapper, singer, and songwriter Chance the Rapper recorded the “10 Day” mixtape while home from school for being caught in possession of marijuana. His path has been paved with gold ever since, […]
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ROCK | Biters
When Gene Simmons declared that rock is finally dead, he probably wasn’t aware of the Biters. The Atlanta-based quartet isn’t as much a band as it is a wrecking ball of wild hedonism. Fueled by booze, groupies, fire-eating, car chases, wrecked furniture, and near rogue-ish anarchy, it’s a classic nod to musicians like early-era Alice […]
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Folk face the music
Folk Faces fan the flames of burning Americana and other root styles with a casual unpretentious swing. Electric guitar, banjo, washboard, saxophone, et al — the combined instrumentation isn’t the least bit normal. The band looks like it picked up its gear at a garage sale. Though at times they come on frenetic, Folk Faces […]
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METAL | Jucifer
I had brain surgery a few years ago where I was required to be fully conscious while they drilled a hole the size of a quarter into my head. It was the loudest thing I’d ever heard — if you don’t count seeing sludge metal duo of doom Jucifer, which I’ve done about half a […]
