In the blessed trinity of Waits, Cohen, and Cave, Nick Cave is by far the darkest. There was some murmuring concern that Cave’s intimate intensity might get swallowed up in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. It turned out to be unfounded.
I Scene It
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I Scene It: Queens of the Stone Age at the Dome
You can’t deny the power of the riff. And frankly, why would you want to? Royal Blood, opening up for The Queens of the Stone Age at The Dome on Friday night, spilt Rochester peasant blood as people clamored to get closer to the stage. Not since Morphine have I seen a band led by the […]
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I Scene It: NoBunny at Photo City
A live show can change your mind, I’m telling you. If you’re on the fence about a band and not really sure if they deserve your love, just give them the live test. I’m not saying the recordings fall short. I’m saying that with the perfect storm of audience participation, reciprocity, a good sound man, […]
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I Scene It: Guster at Anthology
Guster knows how to put on a concert, and it certainly likes to have fun. The band smiles and laughs and adds quirky humor while playing with real ease. The sweetness was on display when the alternative rock band performed a sold out show on Thursday night at Anthology. Rochester’s The Demos kicked off the […]
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I Scene It: Dangerbyrd at the Record Archive
Lemme tell you, it’s hard to be loose without sounding sloppy. It’s kind of like when the doctor tells you to relax while slapping on the rubber gloves. Well, last night Dangerbyrd slapped on the guitars and proceeded to rock steady and loose at the Record Archive’s weekly happy hour. Two guitars together requires a […]
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I Scene It: Mastodon, Eagles of Death Metal, and Russian Circles at the Armory
Part of the utter joy of getting turned on to new music is being able to pass it on. And I’ve been banging the drum for The Eagles of Death Metal since rediscovering the band at a party this summer. (I saw them in Long Beach, California, back in 2010, but kinda forgot.) The band […]
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I Scene It: U2 at New Era Field
I underestimated U2. Of course, I know the band and its music — and I understand the band’s massive relevance in rock history — but until Tuesday night, I’d never fully grasped what a powerhouse it is still. There’s a reason the band can pack out Buffalo’s New Era Field: U2 delivers a show that’s […]
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I Scene It: Elvis Costello at CMAC
Elvis Costello should be lauded for his bravery. His packed show at CMAC Saturday night had the man unapologetically taking chances. He showcased a lot of material from his 1982 album “Imperial Bedroom” to a crowd that sat through it waiting for the hits. “Imperial Bedroom” is classic Costello — though the melodies are a […]
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I Scene It: The Struts at Main Street Armory
I love rock ‘n’ roll, but I’m tired of having to look in the rear view mirror to get it, so I sift through the myriad bands that pitch it retro and throwback — bands that sort of lose the point as they wallow in cliché. Few bands the world over get it right, so […]
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I Scene It: KISS at Blue Cross Arena
I piled into the Blue Cross Arena with the local contingency of the KISS Army for the band’s show Monday night. Everything in rock ‘n’ roll these days seems to be in flux, and aging rockers — fans and bands alike — are busy re-inventing themselves to smooth the jones. Openers The Dead Daises was […]
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I Scene It: John Mellencamp and the Rochester Music Hall of Fame
Frank De Blase spent a couple of nights in Kodak Hall over the weekend, where he learned he was a secret John Mellencamp fan, but just ended up let down by Cherie Currie.
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I Scene It: The Cactus Blossoms, Kaki King, Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People
It was high time to visit that saloon outpost in the heart of Rochester, Wednesday night, for Minneapolis-based gunslingers The Cactus Blossoms. The Bossa Nova Bradley Brothers were in stride when I got to Abilene Bar and Lounge, and I arrived to hear the closer, a nifty rendition of the Sergio Mendes classic “Mas, Que […]
