Even the cab driver snapped a photo. When Jesse Ferrara and his wife were on a babymoon in Japan, Ferrara, a lifelong fan of Power Rangers — yes, the Mighty Morphin’ kind — saw it as a great opportunity. On a break from exploring the local culture, the couple ventured to a remote quarry. But […]
Home Feature
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Vision of Exile’ by Great Klons
In the dream, you’ve crash-landed some kind of flying object into a billowy bed of lilacs somehow blooming out of season in October and, stranger still, unconnected to any trees. It’s dusk. Who knows where you’ve landed. Point is, you’re safe; you’ve survived. You emerge from the nonwreckage and decide to do a little gardening […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Artist Jay Lincoln, whose caricatures captured Rochester, has died
Jay Lincoln, the local artist whose vibrant and dynamic paintings and caricatures decorated the city’s bars and coffee shops, has died at age 60. He posted on Facebook about his prostate cancer diagnosis in early 2025. Lincoln worked in caricature, presenting faces with exaggerated features that brimmed with motion. He painted local fixtures and celebrities, […]
Posted inMusic
The Zombies’ Colin Blunstone brings psych-pop sounds of yesteryear to RIT
The 1960s produced an extraordinary number of records that seem to exist outside of time. Despite being together for only five years, English band The Zombies left an enduring mark on that era with just two albums and a handful of 45s. Colin Blunstone, the voice of The Zombies, has had a career spanning more […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Kathy Clem Museo de Arte readies its large walls for a grand opening
No matter the medium, an artist’s work is her own language. Painter Kathy Clem took that a step further. She invented her own alphabet. “If you’re an artist, you have to have a style, or that’s what everybody says, anyways,” Clem said. “But I decided not to have a style. I wanted to learn a […]
Posted inMusic
Abilene Bar & Lounge to close in November
Abilene Bar & Lounge, the downtown Americana club known for its cozy vibes and robust live-music programming, is set to close in mid-November, owner Danny Deutsch announced today. In a Facebook post, Deutsch thanked the “pretty vibrant and caring community of music fans and friends” the venue has built for 18 years of “wonderful music […]
Posted inRochester Fringe Festival
Five drag nuns walk into a gay bar in standout Fringe premiere ‘Mass Drag’
The photo of James Lopata’s parents meeting Pope John Paul II hangs near his front door but somehow doesn’t command attention. Lopata’s paternal grandmother grew up with John Paul in Wadowice, Poland, so he had a family connection. When he mentions the pin his mother wore to greet the pontiff, the scene becomes downright revolutionary. […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Siren’ by Delaney West
It’s almost autumn, and Delaney West has created a collection perfect for cozy days. Fans of indie folk should save the date for September 18, when West releases her intimate debut album, “Siren.” These eight thoughtful tracks were recorded locally at Submarine Sound Studio with Ben Morey manning production. The record is simple and spellbinding, […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘In Plain Sight: The Black Anthology’
Perhaps you are curious to experience the overlooked work of important Black American composers. There’s a chance that you are a fan of classical songs, or intrigued to hear the works of poets including Langston Hughes in musical form. If you’re someone with a bit of local Rochester pride, you might want to embrace achievements […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Greatest Almosts’ by Dufus
In case we needed a reminder of the singular songwriting voice of long-time Rochesterian Seth Faergolzia, his former freak folk band Dufus’s retrospective album “Greatest Almosts” provides the necessary jolt. Faergolzia’s gymnastic melodies and zany use of group vocals take the fore in this 16-song set culled from the band’s 20-year run. But it’s the […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Analog Dreams’ by Aloefi
“Analog Dreams,” the debut album from Rochester DJ/producer Aloefi, resides nicely within the catalog of Portland-based label Cold Busted Records. Like much of the independent label’s brand of warm lo-fi instrumental hip-hop, “Analog Dreams” is built around sample manipulation that is inventive but rarely flashy, hovering just beneath the audible surface at all times. Despite […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Solo Street’ by Greg Townson
Homegrown favorite Greg Townson released his first collection of solo guitar instrumentals, “Solo Street,” in late May. The 10-song record showcases sweet fingerpicking and clean, articulate fretwork. It’s about dynamics, not gymnastics, and illustrates the work of a practiced craftsman. Townson is usually recognized for his work with Rochester’s Hi-Risers, his collaborations with Nick Lowe […]
