Kristen Mack-Perry

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad

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Jan 282012

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Press Photo Left to right: James Searl, Dan Keller, Chris O’Brian, Aaron Lipp, Dylan Savage

After five years on the road, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s progressive live show has made them one of the most embraced bands by concert-goers and the taper community. Their show recordings have been downloaded over 160,000 times from taper-friendly websites such as archive.org.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Press Photo Left to right: James Searl, Dan Keller, Chris O’Brian, Aaron Lipp, Dylan Savage

Formed in Rochester, New York, GPGDS found common ground through their love of live music, the bass-heavy rhythms of reggae, and long winters spent in a Northeastern industrial city. Collective jam sessions and loosely booked gigs saw the group performing with an evolving lineup. Taking summer road trips to festivals around the country, the band started playing in festival parking lots and campgrounds. These renegade “guerilla” shows would eventually develop into an intense touring cycle.

While the band was quickly placed into the reggae genre after the release of their debut studio album “Slow Down” (2006), Giant Panda has continually pushed the boundaries of this classification. Perhaps said best by online music community JamBase “The five masterful musicians weave layers of complex music within a reggae framework and may be one of the most diverse bands in the genre.” However their music is defined, GPGDS is all about the connection between musician and audience in the live experience.

In 2006, Giant Panda set out to take their guerilla dub shows on the road. While the band explores and interprets their own music differently from night to night, their compositions rely on strong lyrics and melodic chorus patterns. Adamant that an electronic signal cannot create the same vibration as a real instrument, they travel with a vintage Hammond Organ, and other analog gear. “There’s no binary code going on in any of our music” explains GPGDS bassist James Searl. “Actual vibrations send a much more specific sound wave to people’s bodies and ears. This affects them physiologically…analog makes a more direct communication.”

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad has played 500 shows in the past three years, touring relentlessly and developing a widespread grassroots following. They launched their live music website LivePanda.com in September 2010, showcasing high-quality, hand picked recordings. Facilitated by longtime sound engineer Joel Scanlon and the recent addition of guitarist Dan Keller, GPGDS continues to explore new territories of psychedelic roots music and experimental dub.

Upcoming Local Shows

Shows

Posted by Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad

Date	City	Venue	Country
02/03/12	Buffalo, NY	Nietzsche’s	United States
	Time: 9:00pm. Admission: $12. Address: 248 Allen St Buffalo, NY 14201. Venue phone: 716-886-8539. 21+ 2 Panda Sets: Acoustic and Electric!
02/04/12	Ithaca, NY	Castaways	United States
	Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $12. Address: 413 Old Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, NY. Venue phone: 607.272.1370. 18+ Special guest: Sophistafunk
02/09/12	Miami, FL	Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance	United States
	Time: 12:00pm. Admission: Early Bird $90 / $100 adv. Address: 4020 Virginia Beach Dr. Miami, FL 33149. 4 Day Pass: Early Bird $90 (thru Dec 25) / $100 adv. Thursday only: $30 Buy tickets
02/17/12	Oneonta, NY	Oneonta Theatre	United States
	Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $10 adv / $12 dos. Address: 47 Chestnut St. Oneonta, NY 13820. Venue phone: 607-643-4022. All Ages Buy tickets
02/18/12	Syracuse, NY	Westcott Theater	United States
	Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $15. Address: 524 Westcott St Syracuse, NY 13210. Venue phone: 315-299-8886. All Ages. SYRACUSE!

For More Info Please Visit GPGDS

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Boots n’ Shorts

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Jan 262012

Genres: Bluegrass / Jam / Americana
Label: Red Bandit

Artist Bio

Boots n’ Shorts carries on the tradition of old-time music while making it relevant to a modern audience. Meeting at the crossroads of mountain music and the merry pranksters, they introduce new sounds to old-timers and old sounds to new-timers. Blending backgrounds in bluegrass, folk, old-time, jazz, blues, and psychedelic rock,BnS has a large repertoire of original music, classics, and traditional tunes. They have performed live on Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble on WCNY 91.3fm, & have been featured on WAER 88.3fm’s Common Threads with Larry Hoyt.

More About Boots n’ Shorts

It all started back in the summer of 2005, when Mike Mawhinney and Kevin Morel decided that they had a common vision that playing music for folks who like to dance is a good time, and if they could get the occasional free draft, well, that would be nice, too. Kevin was always a jam band fan, & Mike was more into the old time bluegrass sound, but they both agreed that acoustic instruments were the way to go, because they could be played anywhere, & at that time they could just as likely be playing on a park bench or outside of a bar as they would be on a stage. One of their favorite haunts was Old City Hall in Oswego, NY,who had the best open mic in the area every Tuesday, & the crowds would come to call for them by name. With Mike on mandolin and Kevin on the acoustic guitar, they developed a natural sound that could take the listener from a mellow sea shanty to a barn burning breakdown in no time.

It was later that year they decided that some folks would appreciate having a few of their songs on cds to listen to at home, so they gathered together some of their original material & started recording. Kevin met Jason Borisoff at Onondaga Community College & decided to ask for him to contribute some free labor in the way of laying some bass riffs on the recording. It went so well that he decided to join the crew & pretty soon free drinks turned into paying gigs & the guys used the money to buy some mics & stands & PA gear to liven up the shows a bit. Being that Jason was a music major at OCC, Mike & Kev soon discovered he was awesome on the lead guitar, so they put him on guitar & went bassless for a little while. They played at Half Penny Pub and The Bull and Bear Pub in downtown Syracuse, NY, The Autumn Cafe in Oneonta, NY, Sterling Stage, The Bluergrass festival, May Memorial, and the Westcott Community Center, to name a few.

Aaron Chamberlain was an accomplished singer-songwriter who, after touring the Northeast extensively, had been a part of the Austin, Texas music scene before returning home to Upstate New York. In the meantime he had mastered several instruments, one of which was the upright bass, with which he decided to offer his services in hopes of finding some people to play with. The BnS trio, as it was, was attentively looking out for just this kind of person, and after getting in touch & practicing for a few weeks, they hit it off & would soon be out playing agan, hitting up Mezzanotte’s in Syracuse, NY, Walter’s Cafe in Fayetteville, NY, The Palisades in Rome, NY, The Pourhouse in Trumansburg, NY, & the Syracuse Suds Factory in Armory Square in Syracuse, NY.

Andrea Asprelli was born in Colorado & went to college in Massachusetts. After college, she spent a year abroad & became interested in American Folk Music. Having been trained in classical violin since she was a young child, she decided to learn about the Irish & Appalacian fiddle traditions & would come back to the states well versed in the old time style. She would soon find a job in Syracuse, NY, where she began looking around for people that were interested in playing folk music. It just so happened that the Boots n’ Shorts guys were looking for a fiddle player & her style was perfect for the band. Finally, the sound was complete & the summer of 2008 would be spent practicing & playing out at places like The Westcott Theater, String Fling at Sterling Stage, The Hannibal Hoedown, Maxie’s Supper Club in Ithaca, NY, and Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble Picnic in Little York, NY.

Nowadays the guys & gal are happy to complete their fourth album, Static on the Airwaves & starting to plan for next summer. They’re always looking for new places to play & are all about good music, happy people, & the great stories yet untold.

Shows

02/04/12 Sat	Oswego Music Hall	Oswego, NY

02/19/12 Sun	Liverpool Public Library	Liverpool, NY

03/10/12 Sat	Bull and Bear Pub	Syracuse, NY

03/17/12 Sat	Quaker Steak and Lube	Syracuse, NY

For more info please visit www.bootsnshorts.com

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Umphrey’s McGee Sure To Rock Boston, MA

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Jan 172012

“Umphrey’s McGee stand revealed as consummate musical alchemists, deftly reconfiguring sounds from rock’s vast panoply of styles.” (Entertainment Weekly).

Fans who have followed Umphrey’s McGee for any period of time know that there are only two guarantees: you never know what you’re going to get, and Umphrey’s always delivers.

Umphrey's McGee

How else can a band be relentlessly innovative in both music and fan relations for 13-plus years? The latest expected twist arrives in the form of their newest studio album (and first with ATO Records) Death By Stereo (9/13), the follow up to 2009′s Mantis. Mantis surprised fans with a collection of music never before played, and surprised the music industry with an innovative marketing campaign that catapulted the album past the Heatseekers chart, debuting at #62 on Billboard’s “Top 200″ chart without any radio play or television appearances.

Death By Stereo‘s concise melodic approach and accessible songwriting is everything fans had hoped for, but not what anyone expected. Death By Stereo is disarmingly straightforward. Sure, you can dance to it, but the clever arrangements, meticulously crafted chordal interplay, and virtuoso instrumentation put Umphrey’s McGee in a category all their own.

“Our live show is malleable and every night is its own thing, where you never know where things are going to go,” keyboardist Joel Cummins explains. “People aren’t used to us playing three-and-a-half to four-minute songs back to back, so this album is a completely different experience than our live show, which is certainly something we were trying to do.”

Umphrey’s McGee will be playing at The House of Blues in Boston, MA Friday February 10, 2012

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Cabinet

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Jan 172012

When it comes to the music of Cabinet, the essential bywords are soul, simplicity, and serious musicianship. In concert, the combination of these qualities invariably yields an experience that is so celebratory and moving that the very word

Cabinet

Cabinet takes on a new, vivid meaning for anyone in the audience. An inclusive and engaging energy is the uniting through-line as Cabinet weaves bluegrass, country and folk influences to powerful effect. Tight dynamics punctuate gorgeous, soaring harmonies as down-to-earth rhythm and lyrics give way to dreamy jams that are the musical equivalent of the backroad scenic route. But this impressive result is no accident. Pappy Biondo [banjo, vocals], J.P. Biondo [mandolin, vocals], Mickey Coviello [acoustic guitar, vocals], Dylan Skursky [electric bass, double bass], Todd Kopec [fiddle, vocals], and Jami Novak [drums, percussion], all love and live music. They each have a nuanced approach and posses broad talents in their own rights. But the passionate, affirming, and joyous musical world that they create together is Cabinet.

Now listeners that haven’t experienced the Cabinet experience in person will no longer be left out, thanks to a live album, THIS IS CABINET – SET I, out on Ropeadope Records. The tracks are culled from concerts in Cabinet’s homebase of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, as well as from shows in Erie and Cleveland, both popular stops on Cabinet’s touring routes.

Cabinet is a band that has outgrown any “regional favorite” tag and has progressed to a broader fanbase, all while retaining their signature sound. The band self-released a debut album, “Cabinet,” before signing with Ropeadope, which took notice and re-released that album digitally.

Cabinet formed in 2006, bringing together players from various musical and personal backgrounds. Some of the members are barely old enough to drink legally, but their thirst for older music is unquenchable. Whether its rustic “American Beauty”-era Grateful Dead or old-timey bluegrass, Cabinet has digested it all. But that is not to say that Cabinet recreates older styles. No, this is music that might have its roots in the past, but it is current and vibrant, with a sense of celebrating the now.

Cabinet plays Red Square in Albany, NY on Thursday February 9, 2012

Shows

02/09/12 Red Square Albany, NY
02/10/12 Abilene Rochester , NY
02/11/12 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH
02/15/12 Red Square Burlington, VT
02/16/12 The Shaskeen Manchester, NH
02/17/12 Theodore’s Springfield , MA
02/18/12 Will Rogers at Saranac Lake Saranac Lake,NY

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Nectar’s Hosts Spiritual Rez

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Jan 172012

Spiritual Rez

Spiritual Rez, the Reggae Funk Dance Party is a 7-piece band who tirelessly tours the country promoting positive music and attitude. Having released two records independently, the band were the winners of the 2007 Boston Music Award for Best World Music Act.

Playing festivals and venues across the the US and more, the band has shared the stage with internationally acclaimed artists such as Culture, Jimmy Buffett, The Skatalites, Buju Banton as well as have founding Parliament Funkadelic member Bernie Worrell sit in on keyboards for numerous shows.
Spiritual Rez is recognized as a band with “higher consciousness of respect through music” and will continue to grow in the hearts of music fans across the globe.

Spiritual Rez will play Nectar’s in Burlington, VT Friday January 27th, 2012

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Max Creek at Waterstreet Music Hall in January

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Jan 162012

Max Creek, a regional phenomenon is one of the most electrifying live acts on the Eastern seaboard today. Max Creek brings to the stage a wide variety of musical experience, from the blues to ballads to hard- edged rock n’ roll, to early San Francisco era improv.

This five man band has a unique style, and their blend of original songs and classic covers has gained them remarkable respect and a large following which continues to grow. To see Max Creek in concert is to fall under their unique spell. A Max Creek concert– whether in a packed nightclub or outdoor arena– is an electrifying and magical experience; just ask those who travel hundreds of miles to listen and dance. Blues ballads blend into jazzy barroom piano and a jumping, frenetic energy fuled by the audience. An hour later, there’s a full fledged jam at work, combining contemporary and jazz idioms and soaring into freeform flight. Even later, a reggae- tinged stunner will blend right into a folksy blues intro. Each night is different– you can’t predict Max Creek’s direction. Rock, jazz, reggae, folk, bluegrass– it’s all there in a special blend that entices listeners to go back again, and again. Max Creek inspires loyalty, and anyone can get hooked– quickly. When the Creek magic is in full swing, amazing things happen. The guys in the band call it “reciprocal energy” and there’s no better way to describe the bond that develops between performers and audience. This is a Creek specialty, and each night can be described as an incredible journey that band and the audience take together. It’s something that makes all the rehersal, the traveling, and effort that goes into being a musical organization worthwhile. Max Creek has remained a sucessful band for many years, performing year-round in theaters, outdoor arenas, night clubs, colleges and prepschools. Continuing to grow and move ahead, they cut a larger and larger musical profile with many promising prospects for the future. But to fully understand Max Creek’s magic, you have to experience it yourself. Just ask someone who has.

For more info and ticket sales visit Waterstreet Music Hall

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January Thaw Concert

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Jan 112012

The Buddhahood & January Thaw Concert committee is happy
to welcome these featured bands…

Anonymous Willpower,
40 Rod Lightning,
Bear Bones,
Fire Wheel,
The John Payton Project,
Mysterious Blues Band,
Nate’s New Brew,
pietzsche nietzsche,
T.A.O.,

and special guest performers…

Drew Bellavia, Sam Newcomb, Sonam Targee, Dave Ferreira & — with Jeremy Whiting, Paul Hansen, Don Blair, Shawn Drogan, Charles Lindner, The Buddhahood, Chris English, Wil McKenna, Krissy Beth Apples, Bear Bones, Jim Schwarz, Chris Di Stasio, Buddha Hood, Nate Coffey, Pete Mugnolo, Rob Cullivan, Gabe Costanzo, Rick Whitney,Opal Rose, Ron Trip Edwards, Bob Olson, John Erik Payton, Sam Snyder and Suzi Willpower.

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Greensky Bluegrass Band Plays The Westcott Theater

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Jan 112012

If you’re familiar with bluegrass music, then you’re tuned in to some of what Greensky Bluegrass does. They’re also known to throw a great party, rock n roll, and (if the critics are to be believed) they have great songs. They are unquestionably a team of friends that traverse the country making music they enjoy. What makes Greensky different than Bluegrass? Poignant rural ballads about real people? Dobro tone that Jerry (Douglas or Garcia) would love? Distortion Pedals? Grit and attitude from a whiskey soaked card game? Indeed, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Greensky Bluegrass Band

This quintet from Michigan has been staying up late at all the coolest festivals and stopping to play your favorite clubs and theaters across America for 11 years now. Nearly 175 shows per year has prepared them for the rigorous task of continuity. Greensky Bluegrass isn’t slowing down. “They’re coming to your town to help you party down.” Yeah. Really. Like you never thought possible.

At the start of the millenium,some of these guys met, then they met more guys. They thought Greensky was a clever name for a bluegrass band. Fast forward to 2011 when they recorded their fourth studio record, called Handguns. Among them, words like, “proud,” “killer,” and “damn right!” have been spoken in regards to the music of Handguns.

While they all may be accurate, we hope you’ll find far more than you expected, hell – even more than we expected contained in this piece work that may well come to define one of 21st Century America’s hardest working musical ensembles.

Greensky Bluegrass will be at The Westcott Theater Sunday January 22, 2012.

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The Devil Makes Three

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Jan 112012

Punky Bluegrass All Stars ~ The Devil Makes Three

With a slightly punky perspective on vintage American blues, The Devil Makes Three is a breath of fresh musical air on its eponymous Milan debut. Laced with elements of ragtime, country, folk and rockabilly, the critically praised, drummer-less trio – consisting of guitarist/frontman Pete Bernhard, stand-up bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist Cooper McBean – brings forth a genuine approach to acoustic music that is deeply steeped in rhythm.

Punky Bluegrass All Stars ~ The Devil Makes Three

With the goal of being “an acoustic band but to play our shows like a rock show,” the band changed notions of what acoustic music could be. “A lot of it is really calm, and performances are sort of a ‘sit down, don’t talk, don’t move’ kind of an event. Thinking back to the old blues, ragtime and jug band music, it was house music, party music. That was what we wanted to do. And there really aren’t any other bands doing that.”

That festive spirit carries forth to the live favorite “Old Number Seven,” a blistering homage to Jack Daniels Whiskey. “I didn’t set out to write about a particular product, but it just came to me. I had the chord progression, and the next thing you know I was singing.” More cerebral, but no less celebratory is the upbeat “Beneath the Piano.” Written about a New Year’s Party he attended back east, Pete says, “A bunch of people just wound up getting totally wasted and passing out under the piano. And I was one of those people. So that gave the chorus its life.”

While McBean takes inspiration from folk fixture The Reverend Gary Davis, Doc Watson and axe-wielding guitar gods The Fucking Champs, and Turino counts Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Pixies and Gillian Welch, Bernhard was heavily swayed by the art of Lightnin’ Hopkins, the aforementioned Dylan, Tom Waits and Robert Johnson. The end result is genuine blues music that thrives as much in a live setting as it does on The Devil Makes Three.

Proof that mayhem can be found without a drummer, Bernhard adds, “Our thinking is, ‘Let’s get people to have a good time and get together and go crazy.’ And they should treat seeing us like going to a punk rock show, even though it’s something that sounds considerably different.”

This trio rarely visits us in the North East and to our delight they will be stompin and mashin in our neck of the woods come February. Come and get your boogie on at these venus in our area!

Shows

Tuesday

February 14th, 2012

Higher Ground

1214 Williston Road, Burlington, VT

w/ Brown Bird

Wednesday	February 15th, 2012	The Haunt	702 Willow Avenue, Ithica, NY	w/ Brown Bird
Thursday	February 16th, 2012	Horseshoe Tavern	370 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

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