Updated on 6/21/13 to remove a potentially offensive phrase. The East End was buzzing Friday night as it took a step back to an earlier time when the East End Festival was about the music and not an outdoor meat market. It was the excellent music line-up that made the night. I started out with […]
Local Music
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MUSIC FEATURE: Danielle Ponder
At the forefront of funk-soul-rock act Black August’s infectious groove was Danielle Ponder, a fireball of soul, of consciousness, of action. The Rochester band was at its best, playing great shows, drawing big crowds, when it surprisingly opted for a fade to black. Ponder was in law school at Northeastern University in Boston for three […]
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Concert Review: The Clockmen and Fox Force 5 at the Bug Jar
‘Twas damp and cool within the Bug Jar’s walls Wednesday night as a damp and hot Clockmen banged on the beautiful crowd like a brass-knuckled Basilio with a body bag. I’ve seen these cats a number of times, and this show’s particularly ragged onslaught was one of the best. Recently the phrase “food-truck rodeo” has […]
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Concert Review: Hate Machine Farewell Show
It takes a lot of guts to leave the party while it’s still hoppin’, but that’s exactly what Hate Machine did Friday night at Montage Music Hall to a rabid — albeit bummed — crowd. Early in the set singer Jed Seaver stopped between songs to explain. “We’ve hit the plateau and have nowhere else […]
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The Ginger Faye Bakers
While driving to Petco the other day, I shoved the Ginger Faye Bakers’ boss disc, “Feast,” into my dashboard, cranked the volume, and did a double take. I could’ve sworn I heard the ghost of Ron Asheton haunt the speakers amidst this Rochester band’s heavy jam. The Ginger Faye Bakers rock harder than a lot […]
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Finding Paradise
Local musician Jesse Sprinkle has been going on humanitarian trips to Africa since 2008. But last year he realized that his unique skill set as a musician and producer could allow him to help the millions of orphans in Uganda in a very different way. By teaching these children about music, he and his musical partner Kurt Johnson are hoping to make an impact on their lives.
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MUSIC FEATURE: Soviet Dolls
Soviet Dolls is a cool cocktail: two parts rocker, one part young lady who makes YouTube videos. It’s a delicious meld of synthetic pop served over organic rocks. But it’s not the aural wrestling match you’d expect. The synthetics are roughed up nicely by the analogue, and the rock is made more accessible by the […]
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Concert Review: The Fools at Dinosar Bar-B-Que
I’m not fooling when I tell you that The Foolsain’t foolin’. Sure, the name might come off as dismissive, but these fools positively rocked my ass Thursday night at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, where more heat was coming off of Mickey Ames’ guitar than from the smoker out back. This long-haired cat is in the Rochester […]
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Concert Review: Deke Dickerson, Mike Snow Band, Guy Forsyth
Guitar impresario Deke Dickerson positively peeled the paint off the Abilene walls with his blistering guitar work Friday night. Dickerson is one of the slickest, fastest guitar players alive, and his skill is rivaled only by his genuine, aww-shucks charm. Dickerson’s drummer took a crack at playing guitar while two audience members held him by […]
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Concert Review: Synthetica at the Little Theatre Cafe
Someday soon, when ape-like creatures with digital watches are rummaging through the artifacts and wreckage of our civilization, the music of Synthetica will serve as a fitting backdrop. Synthetica is a blast of pearlesque dissonance, of controlled chaos, of understated beauty. I was moved. I parked in back of the Little Theatre Café Thursday night […]
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CONCERT REVIEW: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad at Highland Park
Last night I discovered the distinct difference between Highland Bowl and the Highland Park Festival Site. For whatever reason, me and my wingman Woody thought that the Wednesday Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad concert was at the Bowl. But when we rolled up there was no reggae, there was no dub, there weren’t thousands of […]
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STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE ’10: Music venues
BY WILLIE CLARK Music: the life blood that pumps through any college town, or any city for that matter. Rochester is no exception to the rule. Maybe you want your music loud (and the crowd louder), or perhaps you want some java with a side of programs and pamphlets while somebody plays soulful acoustic guitar. […]
