music

Phish pleases sea of phans
By Jamie De Pould
November 23, 2009 - 1:54am
The legendary jam band with Syracuse roots performed Sunday to a sold-out crowd at the War Memorial Arena.

“Are they smoking weed down there?” asked a Syracuse Police Officer on the roof of the OnCenter parking garage. It was probably a rhetorical question.

The Phish fans — or “phans” as they prefer to be called — descended upon downtown Syracuse long before the legendary jam band went on at 8 p.m. Phans sold their tye-dye shirts and homemade jewelry, enjoyed some food and simply hung out before the fourth stop on Phish’s Fall Tour 2009.

Pop punk and fist pumps
By Lorna Oppedisano
November 18, 2009 - 1:58am
Review: Fazeshift, Hot Chelle Rae and The Academy Is... pack the Schine Underground.

The doors opened at 7:30 p.m., and a line of SU and local high students filed in. The small room transformed into an impressive, yet intimate, concert venue.

Nationally known act, The Academy Is…, backed by local band Fazeshift and touring band Hot Chelle Rae, played to a packed Schine Underground on Tuesday night.

Musically controlled chaos
By Jessica Novak
November 16, 2009 - 10:57am
Review: Medeski, Martin and Wood's concert on Sunday night at the Westcott Theater.

Music was pulsing on Westcott Street until midnight as Medeski, Martin & Wood pushed the boundaries of musical form Sunday at the Westcott Theater. 

Although the band played simple instruments—a keyboard, bass and drums—the essence of the show radiated with intensity. 
    
The doors at the theater opened at 7 p.m., but staff held the show until after 9 to allow more people into the venue. As the crowd trickled in, the old theater’s sticky floors filled with concertgoers from teens to graybeards. 

Resilient rocker
By Adam D'Arpino
November 16, 2009 - 1:54am
Former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty discusses his new album and his “Question Jar” tour, which comes to the Westcott Theater Thursday.

“Intimate” is probably the best way to describe former Soul Coughing lead singer Mike Doughty’s most recent artistic endeavors. His latest record, Sad Man Happy Man, is a collection of pared-down acoustic offerings that lean heavily on his scratchy, emotive vocals and syncopated guitar work. Lyrically, Doughty combines the quirky wit of his Soul Coughing days with the sage observations of his three previous solo efforts, touching on everything from breakups to heroin addiction (Doughty himself is a recovered addict).

Minus the Bear brings Seattle indie rock to Syracuse
By Tamara Vallejos
November 14, 2009 - 1:17am
Drummer Erin Tate talks about his band, the tour and his personal life.

Known for catchy, precise instrumentation and often ridiculous song titles (“Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco® Twister,” and "Hey! Is That a Ninja Up There?"), Minus the Bear is like that fun-loving, indie guy that you’d want to have a drink with.

This week may be your chance to buy them a beverage. The Seattle-based quintet is making a stop at The Westcott as part of its current national tour. But make sure if you get drummer Erin Tate a drink, you go for the high-end tequila.

Motivated to jam
By Jessica Novak
November 11, 2009 - 12:14pm
Medeski Martin and Wood's drummer sheds light on the trio's musical ambitions as the band's latest tour arrives in Syracuse on Sunday.

Chris Wood speaks modestly about the accomplishments of his band, Medeski Martin and Wood. He is a relaxed, friendly interviewee, with a soft laugh and nonchalant way of describing years of touring, albums and musical collaborations. But MMW, which is coming to the Westcott Theater on Sunday night, is hardly a band to be indifferent about.

Aument to perform at Funk 'N Waffles
By Trevor Jett Wells
November 5, 2009 - 7:52pm
Sophomore Sarah Aument brings her music to new audiences, thanks to student-run record label.

Those who want to become rock stars usually make a demo, send it to record companies and hope for the best. Sarah Aument is not one of those people.

In fact, she did not even come to Syracuse University thinking she would be recording music, let alone playing shows around campus.

“We were just coming back from a show and we came back to my good friends’ dorm,” said Aument, a sophomore. “I was playing guitar, and Dan said ‘Ooh, let’s do this.’”

CNY Jazz Orchestra Finds the Happy Medium
By Jessica Novak
November 1, 2009 - 8:33pm
The CNY Jazz Orchestra with special guests Joe Riposo and Steve Brown delivered a Friday night performance that lived up to its title: "Legends of Upstate New York, Part I."

 

Jazz can be a tricky genre to understand and appreciate. However, the Friday, October 30 performance of the CNY Jazz...

Mike Posner sets it off in the Underground
By Drew Carr
October 29, 2009 - 2:04am
Review: Hip-hop artist and Duke senior stages an energy-packed party to celebrate his new album release.

Early Wednesday night, 21-year-old musician and Duke University student Mike Posner strolled leisurely into the Schine Underground. Scheduled to perform two hours later and still appearing tired from his flight, Posner sat down to relax after a routine sound check.

“Today’s a really special day because my new CD just came out,” Posner said. “It leaked a day early, so I’ll be singing several songs from that CD I’ve never sung before.”

Life and Laughter at the Opera
By Carren Jao
October 24, 2009 - 8:55am
The Syracuse Opera gave patrons something to smile about tonight with its first show of the season, La Boheme.

For non-opera lovers, La Boheme rings no bells until you say the magic words, “It’s Rent set in the late 1800s.”  The Broadway version stays faithful to its inspiration, making La Boheme infinitely more accessible to younger audiences even with Italian operatic singing and English subtitles flashing above the stage.

La Boheme is one of Giacomo Puccini’s most popular operas alongside Madame Butterfly.  With a libretto by Guiseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, it was first performed in Turin, Italy on February 1896.