Known for balancing a grim personal aesthetic with ironically bright electronic arrangements, The Bad Dreamers is the synth-wave brainchild of sought-after producer David Schuler. Based in Los Angeles, The Bad Dreamers recently released its newest single, “Georgetown,” a haunting observation of characters in “The Exorcist.” The Bad Dreamers’ highly anticipated sophomore album is set to […]
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PROGRESSIVE SOUL | Lost Wax Collective
As its name suggests, Lost Wax Collective is a coterie of various smooth-grooving musicians who play fluidly between the genres of soul, jazz, R&B, and funk. Anchored by the rhythm section of drummer Brendon Caroselli and bassist Hassan Zaman (a contributing writer to CITY), this Rochester band specializes in intricate yet danceable rhythmic interplay, warm […]
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ROCK | Overhand Sam & Bad Weapon
Attention has been focused in part on guitarist Overhand Sam’s approach to his instrument. But I urge you, that even though he positions his left hand unconventionally over the top of his guitar’s neck, it’s what he emits from his guitar that is extraordinary. Listening to him perform Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” was intense, except […]
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AMERICANA | The Honey Smugglers
The Honey Smugglers have been prominent players in the Rochester Americana scene for five years now, and they’ll be celebrating the milestone with a show on some familiar stomping grounds at Three Heads Brewing this Friday. Fronted by the affable, energetic singer-mandolinist Brian MacDonald, this six-piece band finds itself flowing somewhere between alternative folk, bluegrass, […]
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AMERICANA | The Boyd Parker Ambush
Singer-songwriter Nick Young burns hot. You could even say he burns daylight. With The Boyd Parker Ambush, Young mixes up originals with covers that course through the troubadour vein. There’s a lot of weight swinging in there, from Johnny to Townes to Merle, dancing in there along with plenty of Nick. Honest, intense, and bona […]
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Swimming in Seth Faergolzia’s stream of consciousness
The official release date for the new, self-titled album by Seth Faergolzia’s Multibird is January 1, but you can get a few hours’ head start at the official release show, at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, at Skylark Lounge.
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Album review: ‘Diva & The Boys’
The DIVA Jazz Orchestra ‘Diva & The Boys’ MCG jazz divajazz.com On “Diva & The Boys,” the all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra gives four male musicians a chance to show their stuff. They do not disappoint. Clarinetist Ken Peplowski rips through tunes like Benny Goodman’s “Slipped Disc,” exchanging intertwining solos with Diva clarinetist Janelle Reichman. Jay […]
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Album review: ‘Alegria’
Samuel Torres ‘Alegria’ Blue Conga Music samueltorres.com Colombian percussionist extraordinaire Samuel Torres has worked with Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, Chick Corea, Angelique Kidjo, and many others. Now living in Queens, Torres has just released one of the most ebullient albums of recent years. “Alegria” is brimming with vibrant Colombian and African rhythms, as well as […]
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The F Word: A night for the blues
CITY music writer Frank De Blase catches some blues rock from the Allman Brothers tribute band Live at the Fillmore and local outfit Steve Grills and the Roadmasters — with mixed results.
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Sharing the muse in Multibird
Seth Faergolzia’s Multibird is a magnificent, multi-genre-defying, multi-genre-defining operation. It is odd and it is contrarian. Faergolzia, who wields the baton at the heart of this oddball parade, is a boisterous, gentle giant who does a bit of everything.
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JAZZ-SWING | Gregory Street Vagabonds
What do you get when you gather a group of software developers, IT engineers, pathologists, artists, educators, service workers, and retirees to play music in a South Wedge home? Gregory Street Vagabonds, of course. Mostly consisting of amateur musicians, the Vagabonds’ common denominator is a love of swing dancing. When they play The Little Theatre […]
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HOLIDAY ACOUSTIC | Watkins & the Rapiers
Watkins & the Rapiers’ annual “Holiday Storybook” is a study in wiseass Christmas cheer. Formed in 1997, the band will play a fresh new batch of Christmas tunes, which fly in the face of our country’s annoying obsession with silent nights, mangers, and red-nosed anything. The songs are about such topics as unionizing elves and […]
