MUSIC POTPURRI: Let's start with the Rosendale music festival, which my wife and I went to last Saturday. Rosendale, if you're not familar with it, is a small town located about eight miles from New Paltz in New York state; an area that hasn't forgotten the 1960's. With events like this, it seems that time has stood still. But the music here, maybe not surprisingly, is very active, with many area bands playing the clubs in the general area. The musical styles vary as well, and this street festival, presented on and off since 1978, but has become an annual event since 2004, is one of the best around.
Unlike Maplewoodstock in NJ, this festival resides on the town's main street, with traffic diverted around the edge of town. And instead of one stage, there are five--count 'em scattered around the relatively small Main Street area, and yes, it's not so difficult to hear conflicting sounds if you're standing in a particular area.
It was our first time here in a few years; mainly because the mid-July weekend that this takes place get prone to hot weather. One year we had to leave after an hour because it was so hot. This time, it was a beautiful day being in the upper 70's, but still, due to the hot sun, still had the record turnout on Saturday run for the shade very often. The two-day event would feature 75 bands, some local, some with a more national profile, but it still would showcase the many talents. Some acts have played this festival before, and some for the first time. Of course there were many booths, selling everything from beer to food, to T-shirts and many other kinds of gifts.
But it was the music I came for, and here is an attempt to describe the seven artists I checked out during the five hours I was there. Keep in mind that there are five stages and the bands changed once an hour:
Big Bowl of Soul is a contingent playing rather contemporary spins to vintage songs, mostly from the 1960's. They thrown in a bit of jazz, funk and rock to those classic songs, delivered in fine fashion by lead vocalist Stephanie Ehrlich, heading this five-piece band. We caught them playing "Tainted Love", which was a sixties song before the more-familar Soft Cell version of the 80's came out. We caught a couple other songs as well. A great fun band if you want to head out and be entertained by these new takes on classic songs. Check out their website: http://www.bigbowlofsoul.com/?page_id=16
This area is long noted for folk, acoustic artists, and our next stop, also in the 1 PM hour was to the Creekside stage for Marji Zintz. Her lone presence was in stark contrast to the previous band, but still, you could get lost in her stylings. She has been compared with the likes of Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones and Ani DiFranco. She delivers both original compositions as well as doing covers, spanning many genres. She has performed with such legends as Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton and Robbie Robertson. Learn more about her at http://marjizintz.com/
Now 2 PM, and we traversed the street, landing upon another band that took the stage at 1, but apparently was still going strong. Light of Day, another five-person combo was jamming very well, thank you. Their latin-infused rhythms that recalled early Santana, was just what I needed for the day. Had we not arrived late at their set, I could have been total mesmerized by their laid back, funk groove.
At this point we chilled out in a grove area that also served as a beer garden, and able to access the Mountain Stage, where the band Tigeriss was playing. The stage usually holds the hard rocking outfits, and this band. These guys (and lead singer Lara Hope, who has that 60's hippie vibe in her appearance, but rocks out in current style), formed in nearby New Paltz five years ago, and delivered a nice, outward, hard rockin style. Their latest effort, Everybody Wins, came out late last year.
It was back to the Firehouse stage at 3 PM to check out Ian Lloyd. He may not be a household name, until you find out that he formed the band Stories in 1971. And if you haven't heard of that band, you certainly have heard their big hit, "Brother Louie", which landed at #1 39 summers ago. That band, which also contained former Left Banke ("Walk Away Renee") members as well, disbanded in 1974, after he went solo as well as play with such artists of the era like Foreigner, Peter Frampton, and Yes. After checking out him and his band, all I can say is WOW. This guy rocks, and it's a wonder why he only had that one, uncharacteristic hit. He still sounds the same, but the guitar work from him and the band was outstanding. A couple of Stories tunes to start ("I'm Coming Home", "Darling"), much of his solo stuff, as well as covers of Foreigner, Cars, and even "Fire" by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown. And yes, he ended his set with "Brother Louie".
The wild rockers, Pitchfork Milita, were next as we headed back to the Mountain Stage. The three-piece outfit, headed by Peter Head. Around the area since 1995, they call their own music "Apocobilly". We grabbed something to eat around this time, so we really didn't give them our full attention, but they did get the crowds. http://peterheadhimself.com/?page_id=11
The final band we saw that day were The Trapps, another from that area. This has been one of my favorite bands since I first saw them at the 2004 festival. Formed a year earlier in New Paltz, they mix rock and folk and come up with a sound not unlike The Jayhawks with their harmonies, or just rock out, Black Crowes style. Their latest album, Cheap Seats has been generating a buzz beyond their mid-Hudson valley domain. Songs like "Lullaby" (from that CD) as well as "Grab It And Run" (the standouts in a set I caught in its entirety).
The night would continue until 9 PM and would continue on Sunday, and although we left shortly after The Trapps' set, I did get the satisfaction of catching a full afternoon of great music, unlike my time at Maplewoodstock.
DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING: Maybe someday, The Trapps will become very big and play arenas. They do have a long way to go, however if they want to match the classic rock bands that performed at Izod Center at the Meadowlands this past Tuesday. It was the Global Warming Tour featuring Aerosmith with special guests Cheap Trick.
Now, I had been an Aerosmith fan since the original release of "Dream On", in the fall of 1973, from their debut album. I watched their popularity grow with their subsequent releases. Rocks, from 1976 was one of my most played albums in college while at Montclair State. Many a times during Summer Session I played this album with the speakers blaring out of Bohn Hall. I tired of them in the late 70's as they got too big for themselves (reflected by their internal fighting and drug use) and faded in the early 1980's. Then there was their comeback in the late 80's to being the premiere mainstream rock band (along with Bon Jovi) during that time as well as surviving the grunge explosion.
My wife never thought too much of Steven Tyler, even calling him "ugly". That is, until he joined American Idol in season 10 as a judge. And suddenly, she--along with another female friend of mine--essentially did a 180 and became infatuated with him. So it wasn't that much of a surprise that she wanted tickets to see Aerosmith (who had been inactive for several years, including the time that Tyler spend on "Idol"); she got the tickets back in March! As I had been a fan growing up, as well as that of openers Cheap Trick, I said "why not?". It's been a couple of years since my last big concert (Santana in 2010, unless you count "Idols Live" last year...would you?), so it was something to look forward to.
Barb got a bit down after learning Tyler wasn't coming back to Idol, so she knew this would be the last chance to see him. Choosing between the band and the show, you couldn't blame him for going back to the music.
Cheap Trick got things going first. This band had two prime periods of popularity, from 1978-80 and 1987-1990. In my opinion, they could have been bigger. At their best, they were one of the few bands that exhibited some Beatlesque-type qualities in their music, but of course they could rock out with the best of them. The band was also noted for their personalities and identity. Three of the original four members performed, only drummer Bun E. Carlos was absent--he is still with the band, but has not toured with them since 2010--replaced by frontman Robin Zander's son Daxx.
As much as I was a fan, they actually disappointed. Granted, they had an opening spot, so they're stage presences wasn't as great as it could be, but the sound acoustics were a bit off. Plus, much of their numbers--more recent rocking songs as opposed to their classics--early in their set weren't well known and they seemed lost. But their well known songs, namely "Surrender" and "I Want You To Want Me", showed them in the form they're known for, and we finally got out of our seats to groove along to them. Those two songs, along with "Dream Police" and "Ain't That A Shame" were the only hits played tonight. The band probably could be better off as a headliner for a small venue in the future, but they remain an essential band in rock history.
From the opening bars of "Draw the Line", Tyler was front and center, doing what a frontman for a legendary 70's band should be doing. Perhaps enhanced by his "Idol" stint, he had all the charisma going for him, and he was all over the stage, like it should be. The vocals were sharp as well. But it wasn't just him...guitarist Joe Perry was in fine form as was the rest of the band, as they played many of their well-known songs, not just their classic 70's period but their late 80's and 90's stuff as well, plus a new song form their forthcoming album as well. This is what a concert should sound like, and probably the best one I've been to. Many friends have seen them multiple times; a woman sitting next to me, seven times, for example.
It got better as the night went on. "Walk This Way", one of their biggest 70's hits, was performed in the style of their mid-80's collaboration with rap group Run-DMC, thanks to special guest Darryl McDaniels ("D.M.C." of that legendary old-school rap group). That version, even more nowadays than back then, added spice to an already rocking song as those highlighted words "chance", "dance", etc, just added to the adrenaline rush. The crowd at this point was just electrifying. Then in contract, the first encore featured "Dream On" with Tyler at the piano, then eventually dancing around on it. They went on for a couple more encores before things came to an end, capping a great night.
BACK TO THE CHARTS: Aerosmith and Cheap Trick were just two big acts that sprawned in the 70's and this week's SNS chart has two new songs by high-profile acts that came around in the ninties--Green Day and No Doubt, which head up a list of some cool new songs, which also includes a new band, and a follow-up from a band that impressed on SNS last time out.
Before we do that, we have yet another #1 song, the fourth in as many weeks; this time is "Nunca", by Trails And Ways. Pink's new song is the big entry into the top 20. OK, on with the new stuff.
The top debut is not Green Day or No Doubt, but "Sleep Alone" by the Northern Irish oufit Two Door Cinema Club. It's the lead single from their second album Beacon, due in September. Their first set Tourist History, sprawned three top 20 hits on SNS: "Something Good Can Work" (#15), "What You Know"(#7) "Undercover Martyn" (#9). This one continues that melodie indie-rock stance of their previous efforts. Nice melodies result in a successful follow-up.
Rumsey Playfield in Central Park is where you can catch these guys in the area, on September 28.
Next is "Make it Known" by Foxygen, a duo with members on both sides of the country (Olympia WA and New York City). It's from their debut EP Take the Kids off Broadway, and is a great debut by them. They have a nice, refreshing 1960's vibe, a folkish / psychedelic sound, that echos The Byrds, a bit of "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" and a few other retro ingredients thrown in. I'm going on a limb and saying this will be a fast riser to the top...at least here. It would be nice if radio would follow suit. It's another great pick from Brian Sniatkowski, who made this his "song of the week" last week.
The next two debuts are from high-profile 90's bands back from a hiatus. Green Day's "Oh Love", a mid-tempo rocker, not unlike their most recent efforts. It comes from the band's forthcoming September album, Uno. Apparently, this is part of a trilogy of albums, as the following two releases will be called Dos and Tre will be released in the months following. I'm not sure what this will entail, but apparently the band will go back to more power-pop, instead of the operatic themes of their past two sets. There will be a tour, but so far, the only confirmed date is in Las Vegas on September 21.
Next is the long-awaited new No Doubt single "Settle Down", the first in a decade for the Gwen Stefani-led band. In the mid-90's they took the world by storm with their ska-influenced numbers, and of course, the huge power balled "Don't Speak". They then moved into post-grunge, and even hip-hop before Gwen went out on her own diving deep into that genre. Their final single as a band, "It's My Life", a cover of an 80's song by Talk Talk, was a throw back to their alt-rock late 90's period. A couple years ago, they reformed and went on tour, despite not having a new record. Well, they have it now. As for the song, I really don't know what to say, except it appears they're trying to put all of those styles together into one. The song has debuted on many format charts, including alternative, triple-A, pop, and Adult top 40. It may take a few more listens to get a feel of this song. Push and Shove, their first effort in 11 years, comes out September 25th. That's a LOT of albums to buy that month, I must say! As for tours, again, it looks like it's the September 21st date that Green Day is playing...the iHeartradio Music Festival, which aside from those two bands, will feature Pink, Linkin Park and Rihanna, among others.
QUICK N BRIEF: Mariah Carey has replaced Jennifer Lopez as a new judge on American Idol. Despite the diva's success (18 number one songs), I am not a fan, and the news really doesn't excite me too much, especially since Tyler is also gone and even Randy Jackson isn't sure he'll return. Many have vowed to stop watching the show; and in fact, ratings were down last season. There isn't the "look forward" factor that previous seasons have had. However, as latest winner Phillip Phillp's "Home" moves closer to my top 20 it does bring up one point: the show does produce chart songs, something that The Voice or X Factor have yet to do. And I suppose as long as that happens I may watch. However, I am sure I will dread watching Mariah...... "Call Me Maybe" spends a sixth week on top of the charts, but it's becoming the butt of jokes. The song is too damn catchy--it holds at #69 here---but it may get to the point when I'm embarassed to list it. We shall see....Ellie Goulding's "Lights" (#82) advances to #4 on the Hot 100. The song topped my list last December. If it hits the top nationally, it would be the biggest gap between my #1 and the national #1....six months and counting.
SCENES 'N' SOUNDWAVES 100 for Week of July 28, 2012:
|
This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
|
1
|
2
|
TRAILS AND WAYS
"Nunca"
Album: Birds and Batteries
|
9
|
|
2
|
5
|
The Kooks - Is It Me
|
9
|
|
3
|
1
|
Mayer Hawthorne - Henny and Gingerale
|
11
|
|
4
|
6
|
M83 - Reunion
|
10
|
|
5
|
7
|
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - That's What's Up
|
13
|
|
6
|
4
|
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Never Go Back
|
15
|
|
7
|
3
|
The Shins- The Rifle's Spiral
|
16
|
|
8
|
11
|
Best Coast - The Only Place
|
10
|
|
9
|
16
|
The Black Keys - Little Black Submarine
|
6
|
|
10
|
20
|
The Heavy - What Makes A Good Man
|
5
|
|
11
|
15
|
Oberhofer - Away From You
|
14
|
|
12
|
8
|
Maroon 5 - Come Away To the Water
|
18
|
|
13
|
9
|
Passion Pit - Take A Walk
|
10
|
|
14
|
10
|
Metric - Youth Without Youth
|
13
|
|
15
|
12
|
The Wombats - Jump Into the Fog
|
20
|
|
16
|
37
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
P!NK
"Blow Me (One Last Kiss)"
Album: The Truth About Love
|
3
|
|
17
|
13
|
Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose
|
20
|
|
18
|
18
|
Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side
|
8
|
|
19
|
14
|
Linkin Park - Burn It Down
|
13
|
|
20
|
17
|
Gotye f. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used to Know
|
27
|
|
21
|
22
|
Graffiti6 - Stare Into the Sun
|
11
|
|
22
|
23
|
Wolf Gang - The King and All His Men
|
8
|
|
23
|
25
|
The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio
|
7
|
|
24
|
26
|
Phillip Phillips - Home
|
9
|
|
25
|
28
|
Beach House - Lazuli
|
7
|
|
26
|
27
|
Fun. - Some Nights
|
17
|
|
27
|
31
|
The Raveonettes - Observations
|
4
|
|
28
|
19
|
Eve6 - Victoria
|
19
|
|
29
|
30
|
Gossip - Move in the Right Direction
|
6
|
|
30
|
34
|
Matchbox Twenty - She's So Mean
|
6
|
|
31
|
21
|
Florence + the Machine - No Light, No Light
|
28
|
|
32
|
24
|
Ty Segall & White Fence - I Am Not A Game
|
18
|
|
33
|
36
|
Ty Segall - I Brought My Eyes
|
8
|
|
34
|
33
|
Lost n the Trees - Golden Eyelids
|
16
|
|
35
|
41
|
Dawes - If I Wanted Someone
|
5
|
|
36
|
40
|
Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye
|
7
|
|
37
|
43
|
The Gaslight Anthem - 45
|
9
|
|
38
|
44
|
Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound
|
6
|
|
39
|
29
|
Lady Antebellum - Dancing Away With My Heart
|
18
|
|
40
|
35
|
Maroon 5- Payphone
|
11
|
|
41
|
32
|
Electric Guest - This Head I Hold
|
21
|
|
42
|
54
|
Emeli Sande - Next To Me
|
5
|
|
43
|
48
|
Gotye - Eyes Wide Open
|
14
|
|
44
|
50
|
The Royal Concept - Gimme Twice
|
5
|
|
45
|
72
|
Dignan Porch - Picking Up Dust
|
2
|
|
46
|
57
|
Grassfight - Look Homeward Heathen
|
3
|
|
47
|
38
|
The Decemberists - One Engine
|
16
|
|
48
|
51
|
Public Image Ltd - One Drop
|
5
|
|
49
|
39
|
Toby Keith - Red Solo Cup
|
18
|
|
50
|
42
|
Jack White - Sixteen Saltines
|
16
|
|
51
|
47
|
The Black Keys - Gold On the Ceiling
|
26
|
|
52
|
46
|
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
|
32
|
|
53
|
49
|
Marriages - Ride In My Place
|
17
|
|
54
|
91
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
THE AVETT BROTHERS
"Live and Die"
Album: The Carpenter
|
2
|
|
55
|
53
|
Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary
|
17
|
|
56
|
65
|
The Mungers - B School
|
3
|
|
57
|
64
|
Weeks - The House We Grew Up In
|
4
|
|
58
|
70
|
The Features - Another One
|
3
|
|
59
|
66
|
Meiko - Leave the Lights On
|
4
|
|
60
|
45
|
Florence + the Machine - Breath of Life
|
11
|
|
61
|
63
|
Eric Hutchinson - Watching You Watch Him
|
7
|
|
62
|
61
|
Florence + the Machine - Never Let Me Go
|
20
|
|
63
|
----
|
TOP DEBUT:
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
"Sleep Alone"
Album: Beacon
|
1
|
|
64
|
56
|
Garbage - Blood For Poppies
|
18
|
|
65
|
71
|
Silent Rider - I Was A Bomb
|
4
|
|
66
|
52
|
Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
|
14
|
|
67
|
----
|
Foxygen - Make It Known
|
1
|
|
68
|
55
|
The Offspring - Days Go By
|
11
|
|
69
|
69
|
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
|
8
|
|
70
|
----
|
Green Day - Oh Love
|
1
|
|
71
|
58
|
The Rapture - How Deep is Your Love
|
28
|
|
72
|
90
|
The Killers - Runaways
|
2
|
|
73
|
81
|
A Place to Bury Strangers - You Are the One
|
2
|
|
74
|
60
|
Fun. f. Janelle Monae - We Are Young
|
34
|
|
75
|
67
|
Dead Sara - Weatherman
|
6
|
|
76
|
----
|
No Doubt - Settle Down
|
1
|
|
77
|
59
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - L.O.V.
|
20
|
|
78
|
62
|
Dante vs Zombies - Natural Disaster
|
19
|
|
79
|
79
|
Dr. Dog - Lonesome
|
6
|
|
80
|
80
|
Rome - Dedication
|
4
|
|
81
|
83
|
Jacuzzi Boys - Automatic Jail
|
4
|
|
82
|
85
|
Ellie Goulding - Lights
|
27
|
|
83
|
77
|
The Tallest Man on Earth - 1904
|
7
|
|
84
|
86
|
White Violet - Lays Around Lazy
|
8
|
|
85
|
68
|
Rihanna - Where Have You Been
|
5
|
|
86
|
74
|
Zach Heckendorf - All the Right Places
|
15
|
|
87
|
78
|
Foo Fighters - Bridge Burning
|
14
|
|
88
|
89
|
Jack White - I'm Shaken
|
3
|
|
89
|
73
|
Beach House - Myth
|
19
|
|
90
|
75
|
Dirty Heads - Spread Too Thin
|
19
|
|
91
|
92
|
Daniel Powter - Cupid
|
2
|
|
92
|
----
|
Christina Perri f. Jason Mraz - Distance
|
1
|
|
93
|
93
|
Zac Brown Band - The Wind
|
4
|
|
94
|
96
|
Hot Chip - Night and Day
|
2
|
|
95
|
----
|
Band of Horses - Knock Knock
|
1
|
|
96
|
76
|
The Hives - Go Right Ahead
|
17
|
|
97
|
87
|
Alex Clare - Too Close
|
11
|
|
98
|
99
|
311 - Time Bomb
|
2
|
|
99
|
82
|
Town Hall - Good Boy
|
17
|
|
100
|
84
|
Alabama Shakes - Hold On
|
19
|
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