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Ryder Cooley of Dust Bowl Faeries – Interview

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Ryder Cooley of Dust Bowl Faeries

Liam Sweeny interview with Ryder Cooley of Dust Bowl Faeries

https://dustbowlfaeries.com/

@dustbowlfaeries

RRX: Hey Ryder, can you hear me?

RC: Yes!

RRX: So this is Ryder Cooley of Dust Bowl Fairies talking to Liam Sweeney of RadioRadioX.

Let’s start out talking about what’s new…

RC: Well, Dust Bowl Fairies have a new EP, Magic & Mayhem coming out September 7th and we’re releasing a new video with it. The video is for the song Film Noir Double Feature. It’s our ten-year anniversary this year, so we’re going to celebrate on Saturday September 7th at our EP Release Show, which will be at Return Brewing in Hudson, NY. Melora Creager (of Rasputina) will be sitting in with us on cello and she plays on a couple of songs on the EP.

TICKET Link:

SAT. SEPT 7th, Return Brewing Hudson, 8-10pm

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6365666

RRX: Ok, cool. So in addition to having the most unique sound, you guys have a very unique stage presence. A dust Bowl Faeries show is unmistakably the Full Fairy, it cannot be anything else. So tell me about how the… what do I wanna call it?

How did the vibe evolve from when you started up? Were you guys always like this, or did this happen over time?

RC: The vibe came out of me doing multi-media performances. My background is in visual and performance art and I’ve always been into visual and theatrical presentations. When I first started working with taxidermy animals it was for my performance art shows. I would strap the animals onto my body and it started out as a macabre shadow theater. You would just see the shadow of my body and the other performers, the human figures, with the taxidermy heads protruding like hybrid appendages.  So it mostly happened within the realm of the shadows originally, then gradually I decided to bring it out of the shadows and integrate the hybrid characters with music and songs, but there were still shadows because there were video projections. Dust Bowl Faeries don’t work with videos projections very often these days because it really requires a specific space that’s hard to get. But we still work with the taxidermy animals, especially Hazel, who many people have met. Hazel is the band’s mascot spirit animal.

RRX: OK, cool. So you’re saying that you started in visual art before music, right?

RC: Yeah.

RRX: I’m asking this because I’m a visual artist, and more recently a musician. I just put out my own EP so I know where you’re coming from because I’m a writer, artist and musician, and I feel like it’s all one thing but I mean, I don’t understand people who like to stick to one of those things instead of exploring all of them. So you’ve explored at least two, music and visual art. What do you think it takes to be adept in more than one of the creative arts as opposed to being adept at one?

RC: I think it’s about being a multi-sensory person (or not).  Some people really focus in on one sensorial aspect, and there’s nothing wrong with that, you can really dive in more deeply and perfect your craft that way. But if you’re more of a multi-sensory person (like us), then I think it’s hard to just do one thing, because sound evokes images and images evoke sound. I mean, if you watch a movie without the sound it’s not the same thing. So they’re really linked and they really enhance each other.

RRX: Yeah, that definitely shows through with you, totally. OK, so when you are coming up with ideas for songs or for any aspect of what you do… I’m imagining two possible approaches. One is that you have an idea and then you make it happen with whatever skills you have musically and/or visually. The other approach is that you just enter into that free form zone and something pops out and you’re like, oh let me grab that. I mean, which one do you think more often happens with you?

RC: I think it’s the first one, say the first one again?

RRX: You have a vision and you use all the skills/tools available to try to hash out that vision.

RC: I think it starts with having the vision but then things morph and there’s accidents and surprises along the way. I’m not somebody where I start out with one vision and that’s what it has to be in the end, sometimes the result ends up being a lot different than what I thought it would be.

RRX: Ok. So yeah, so it’s almost like a combination of both then?

RC: Yes

RRX: Like in the media, our vision informs the media, but then the media informs our vision.

RC: Definitely.

RRX: So where do you play most often, geographically, in this area?

RC: We’re based in the Catskill/Hudson NY area and we play a lot of shows in the NY Hudson Valley and Capital District. We try to do a little bit of touring every year, I’d like to do more, but it gets complicated. Last year we went to Sicily, which was epic and amazing. But  we mostly play in the northeast and the majority of our shows are within a couple of hours from home. We haven’t been playing much in NYC since the pandemic since so much of the city moved upstate, but we play in the Berkshires and sometimes we tour to Atlanta or New Orleans. This is our second year playing at the Rochester Fringe Festival, we’ll be there September 13-15 at The Spirit Room, which is a very cool culty venue. So yeah, we kind of drift around.

Fringe Festival Tickets/info:

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6365666

RRX: So when was the last time you played in the metro capital district?

RC: Last month I played roaming accordion for a circus series in Troy.  Prior to that, the band played at the Linda earlier this summer and our trio will be playing on Saturday August 31 outside the Troy Music Hall in the “courtyard”. They close down the street, it’s a really series.

RRX: Yeah, I’ve heard of that.

RC: It’s called Summer Square, the performances are 6-7:30. We also played in Saratoga at the Tang Museum this summer and that was fantastic. They have a series called, UP Beat On the Roof.

RRX: Nice. So, you’re up on the roof line?

RC: Well, I don’t know where the roof begins and ends because it’s a very peculiar modern building, but where we performed seemed more like a lawn that a roof! I don’t know if the series started out on the roof and then shifted to the lawn, or maybe there’s a secret roof under the lawn, but it was really fun to play there, really great sound and there are always amazing exhibits in the museum. The Tang is one of my favorite museums in the area.

RRX: Ok. So I have a question here. When I was putting my album together I was also doing  an article for this place called Slab City and it’s out in the California desert and I was interviewing The Nomads and people like that, really cool. The person I interviewed, Simca, was up on Mount Shasta in California, they were doing drum circles and it’s supposed to be a holy mountain. And she said that she played my song up there. I was like, oh, that’s awesome. That’s great. That’s perfect. That’s beautiful. So let’s say, New York, anywhere in New York, where do you think would be the most spiritual, coolest place you could play? Doesn’t have to be a venue and I’m not saying spiritual like a denomination…

RC: Oh, I mean, because we’re right at the base of the Catskill Mountains there’s definitely a lot of very amazing places. Like peaks with views in the Catskills, like the whole Wyndham and Hunter Mountain areas. There’s also the Platte Clove, but actually I love just being along the Hudson River. Right in Catskill there’s a couple of parks, or points, one of them feels enchanted sometimes. It’s got a dreadful name (Dutchman’s Landing) but you can also call it Catskill Point and it’s basically where the Catskill Creek runs into the Hudson River. There’s a lot of past and future energy there, a confluence, a little bit of magic.

RRX: I wonder if they’d let you play there? That would be cool.

RC: Yeah, they do have a music series in the park area, but it’s more like cover bands. So we keep asking, why don’t you book Dust Bowl Fairies? And they’re like, nah, it’s too weird, but I would love to play there, and it wouldn’t need to be in the bandstand. It would be better right next to the water!

RRX: um, or…

RC: Maybe on a boat or something?

RRX: Just go there and play. Don’t even get permission, just go there and grab your stuff and play. Don’t even play for anybody, just play for yourself!

RC: There’s actually this amazing place where we’ve been playing, it’s called Widow Jane Mine, they have concerts all summer long. It’s a mine shaft in Rosendale NY, the acoustics are incredible. So if people are looking for interesting locations to hear music I would definitely recommend Widow Jane Mine. There is another amazing earthwork sculpture park nearby, Opus 40, where we’ve played last year. So there are some really goldmine locations around here that are also legit music venues.

RRX: Nice. OK, so your new music, let’s have a description of what this music will be containing

RC: The new Ep, Magic and Mayhem – I’d say it’s playful, and quirky. We’ve really been trying to have fun with the music so some of it is a bit more prankish and danceable than our past songs. I’ve gotten to a point of wanting to take myself less seriously and enjoy the music more and also write songs that are a bit more accessible, so there are some up-tempo tunes, I call them Gothic Polkas, and we’ve been trying to do a bit more of a swing beat sometimes. There’s also a lot of dark humor. There’s one song, Lovers of the Woods, that’s a dark fairy-tale romance gone awry (our specialty is tragic tales). There’s another song, Ringlet’s Roulette, that’s partly about weeds and flowers, even though you wouldn’t  know it unless you really listen to the lyrics closely since it’s also about relationships. But you will hear us sing about queen anne’s lace, roses, daisies, lavender and pockets of posies, which as you know is a plague reference. We’re till macabre, but we’re trying to be a bit more light hearted these days.

RRX: That’s cool, ok so I will give you one last thing, answer the question I didn’t ask, anything you wanna say

RC: I guess I’ll mention something about our process. The full Dust Bowl Faeries ensemble is a five piece band with  Jon B Woodin on guitar,  Rubie LaRue on lap steel, Jude Roberts on bass and Andrew Stein on drums. I’m the faerie leader so I write the majority of the songs, but it’s fairly collaborative once everybody starts coming up with their parts. We work on harmonies together, and sometimes someone says hey, what if we try this? I like getting other people’s input and seeing where the song can go with the group. Everybody is so talented and it’s really fun to take the song to the next level once we start adding in the musicians and their ideas. I like trying things, so there’s always an element of collaboration and surprise in the songs.

RRX: That’s awesome! All right, so I’m just gonna end it right here.

RC: Ok, thank you so much

DUST BOWL FAERIES, Dark Carnival Dream Music

Cyanide Hotel music video: https://youtu.be/62eAlZ1NTXg

Dust Bowl Faeries perform a faerie-tale fusion of dark cabaret and gothic polka music, infused with a dose of witchcraft and a dusting of woodland magic. Celebrating their ten year anniversary in 2024, the accordion driven freak-folk ensemble hails from the New York Hudson Valley and draws inspiration from sinister circus songs, murder ballads and Eastern European folk music. Singing saw, piano accordion, lap-steel, electric bass, percussion and acoustic guitar combine to create the Dust Bowl Faeries otherworldly sound. Dust Bowl Faeries was founded by Ryder Cooley (faerie queen) and her taxidermy spirit animal, Hazel the Ram.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dustbowlfaeries/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/dustbowlfaeries

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbowlfaeries

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Show Detective – 8/30 – 9/1

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Staff
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Show Detective

Show Detective.

Friday, August 30th

The Empire Strips Back, The Egg, Albany, 7pm

Part of the Guest Presentation Series

Let us deliver you to the dark side! With comedy and allure, loving detail, and hilarious parody, The Empire Strips Back drops classic Star Wars characters into the world of burlesque. Be prepared for some seriously sultry Stormtroopers, a dangerously enticing Boba Fett, some tantalizing Twi’leks, a delightfully luke-warm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker, the Droids you are looking for, and much, much more! Don’t miss out and get your tickets for The Empire Strips Back in Albany!

Tedeschi Trucks Band, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 6pm

with special guests Greensky Bluegrass and Margo Price

Artful Alchemy, Empire Underground, Albany, 6:15pm

Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan, Twisted Fiddler, Troy, 6pm

Off the Record, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 8pm

Off The Record Trio is the Capital District’s only 1960’s rock and roll lounge band. Awarded a music “Eddie” for Best Capital District Party Cover Band 2 years in a row, the trio plays 60’s vintage tunes as well as some hidden nuggets with a modern twist.   It is led by the dynamic and engaging Joanna Palladino on vocals with local favorite Geo on guitar / vocals along with Bob Resnick splashing rock and roll rythems on a minimalist drum set.  Local sax legend Luke McNamee will be joining the band as a special guest for this occasion.

Selli Paper w/ DJ King Bully + Special Guests, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 11pm-2:30pm

Selli Paper is a young artist out of Upstate New York with a work ethic at an all-time high.  Selli brings a new sound, as well as a new generation, with his music.  He speaks highly on the things that he has been through and adds more wave than anybody in this world.

Website: www.facebook.com/SelliPaper

Frank Vignola & Pasquale Grasso, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

Frank Vignola’s jaw-dropping guitar technique explains why the New York Times deemed him one of the brightest stars of the guitar. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark O Connor, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his Five Most Admired Guitarists List for the Wall Street Journal.

Hellseeker Goth Nite w/ Architrave and Faux Fear, No Fun, Troy, 8pm-10pm

“Bar People.”

8/30 1:00 PM Joe Adee & The Lugnuts- Saratoga Racecource

8/30 1:00 PM Reggie’s Red Hot Feetwarmers … Strolling Saratoga Race Course

8/30 11:00 AM Pat Decker- Kings Tavern

8/30 5:00 PM CC Smokes- S&S farm Brewery

8/30 5:00 PM Eric Erickson- Yanni’s Too

8/30 5:00 PM Jason Irwin- Dancing Grain

8/30 5:00 PM PoGo- Frog Alley Brewing

8/30 5:00 PM The Hawthornes- Bunker Backyard Concerts

8/30 6:00 PM Bronte Roman & Steve Viglucci Duo- Sofia’s of Clifton Park

8/30 6:00 PM Dan Dekalb- 677 Prime

8/30 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Wheatfields Restaurant Clifton Park

8/30 6:00 PM Elliott Woods- Thirsty Owl

8/30 6:00 PM Had The Radish- Olde Bryan Inn

8/30 6:00 PM Jukebox Rebellion- Carsons Woodside Tavern

8/30 6:00 PM Lennox- Indian Ladder Farms

8/30 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- The Scarlet Knife

8/30 6:00 PM Northern Borne- Inn at Saratoga

8/30 6:00 PM Sirsy- Saratoga Winery

8/30 6:00 PM Sticks and Stones- The Mill on Round Lake

8/30 6:00 PM The Girlz- Prime at Saratoga National

8/30 6:00 PM The Ultimates- Siro’s

8/30 6:00 PM Tooty And The Motherpluckers- Powers Pub

8/30 6:30 PM Christine Spero- Panza’s Saratoga

8/30 6:30 PM Debbie Fish- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

8/30 6:30 PM Sheri Nolan & Peter Von Allmen- Artisanal Brew Works

8/30 6:30 PM Steve Candlen- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

8/30 6:30 PM Stretch Duo- Other One Brewery

8/30 7:00 PM Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan- Twisted Fiddler

8/30 7:00 PM Jeff Walton- Principessa Elena

8/30 7:00 PM Joe Severino- Dukes Chophouse At Rivers Casino

8/30 7:00 PM Legacy- Beach Bar at Dock Browns Tavern

8/30 7:00 PM Liam Davis- Bourbon Room

8/30 7:00 PM Off The Record Trio- Putnam Place

8/30 7:00 PM Part Time- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

8/30 7:00 PM Radio Junkies- Druthers Clifton Park

8/30 7:00 PM The Schmooze- Lago’s by Druthers

8/30 7:00 PM The Wallies- Horseshoe Tavern

8/30 7:00 PM Tiny Planet Duo- Kraverie

8/30 8:00 PM Dave Fisk Quartet- Nine Maple

8/30 8:00 PM Dirt Chrep Trio- Bunker Saratoga

8/30 8:00 PM DJ Eric Whin- Misfit

8/30 8:00 PM Frank Vignola & PasQuale Grasso- Caffe Lena

8/30 8:00 PM Mike Levan- Saratoga City Tavern

8/30 8:00 PM North & South Dakota’s- Druthers Saratoga

8/30 8:00 PM Rick Bolton- Cooperstown Distillery

8/30 8:00 PM Steve Cowles- Katie O’Byrnes

8/30 8:00 PM Tim Wechgelaer & Chris Carey- Parting Glass

8/30 8:30 PM Big Sky Country- Frog Alley Brewing

8/30 9:00 PM DJ John Jamz & DJ TSwag- Night Owl

8/30 9:00 PM ILL Funk Ensemble- Ice House

8/30 9:00 PM New York Players- The Wild Horse

8/30 9:00 PM TS Ensemble with Carmen Lookshire- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

Saturday, August 31st

Dust Bowl Faeries, The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 6pm

The Summer Square Concert Series is a free, outdoor event at 6 PM Saturday nights July and August in the Music Hall Courtyard.

DUST BOWL FAERIES, Dark Carnival Dream Music

“You can almost smell the gas lamps in the street & the absinthe being poured” Americana Highways

Cyanide Hotel music video: https://youtu.be/62eAlZ1NTXg

Dust Bowl Faeries perform a faerie-tale fusion of dark cabaret and gothic polka music, infused with a dose of witchcraft and a dusting of woodland magic. Celebrating their ten year anniversary in 2024, the accordion driven freak-folk ensemble hails from the New York Hudson Valley and draws inspiration from sinister circus songs, murder ballads and Eastern European folk music. Singing saw, piano accordion, electric bass, percussion and acoustic guitar combine to create the Dust Bowl Faeries otherworldly sound. Dust Bowl Faeries was founded by Ryder Cooley (faerie queen) and her taxidermy spirit animal, Hazel the Ram.  Ryder and Hazel are joined by Jon B. Woodin (rocket faerie), Jude Roberts (hobbit faerie) for this special trio performance at Summer Square.

The Empire Strips Back, The Egg, Albany, 7pm

Part of the Guest Presentation Series

Let us deliver you to the dark side! With comedy and allure, loving detail, and hilarious parody, The Empire Strips Back drops classic Star Wars characters into the world of burlesque. Be prepared for some seriously sultry Stormtroopers, a dangerously enticing Boba Fett, some tantalizing Twi’leks, a delightfully luke-warm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker, the Droids you are looking for, and much, much more! Don’t miss out and get your tickets for The Empire Strips Back in Albany!

Tedeschi Trucks Band, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 6pm

with special guests Margo Price and Little Feat

D.R.I., Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

DJ King Bully, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 11pm-2am

Come get down on the biggest dancefloor in Saratoga. DJ King Bully will be spinning the hottest beats late in to the evening.

DJ King Bully blurs the lines between Dancehall, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, and Latin into what is a refreshing departure from anything else you’ve heard. The Troy NY native not only dominates the Capital Region club circuit, he also boasts an impressive list of concerts, which includes acts like Dababy, Lil Baby, Cardi B, Fabolous, DMX, Ja Rule, Ashanti and more. Always sure to get the crowd hype and the club packed, DJ King Bully is the sound that keeps any party going strong.

Judith Owen, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

Join Judith Owen, and her New Orleans sextet, for an electric evening featuring music from her latest release, “Judith Owen Comes Alive.” Celebrate the music of the female singers, pianists, and band leaders who inspired her as a young woman. Starting with the trailblazing but often forgotten “Unapologetic” Jazz and Blues ladies of the ‘40s & ‘50s, artists like Nellie Lutcher, Julia Lee, and Blossom Dearie, who were singing about sex and enjoying it at a time when women were “supposed” to be singing about romance. As well as the powerhouse women who followed, such as Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone.

Anime Rave – Bitchin’ Betty / DJ 2nd Child / DJ P!nk P!xl, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

“Bar People.”

8/31 1:00 PM Blues House Rockers- Saratoga Race Course

8/31 2:00 PM Joe Henley- Artisanal Brew Works

8/31 2:00 PM Monkberry- Frog Alley Brewing

8/31 2:00 PM Rogues- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

8/31 3:30 PM Harmonic Duo- Liberty Ridge Farm

8/31 4:00 PM Becca Fame & The Tall Boys- Helderberg Mountain Brewing Co

8/31 4:00 PM Larry Hooker- Basin Grill

8/31 5:00 PM Another Cover- S&S farm Brewery

8/31 5:00 PM Kyle Loucks- Artisanal Brew Works

8/31 5:00 PM Peter Pashoukos- Murray Fools Distilling

8/31 5:00 PM Wreckless Duo- Frog Alley Brewing

8/31 6:00 PM Cloud Lifter- Inn at Saratoga

8/31 6:00 PM Franklin Micare- 677 Prime

8/31 6:00 PM Jeff Walton- Olde Bryan Inn

8/31 6:00 PM Jeremy Gold Quartet- Stellas Pasta Bar

8/31 6:00 PM Joe Severino- Ravenswood

8/31 6:00 PM Joe Severino- Ravenswood

8/31 6:00 PM Juniper- The Scarlet Knife

8/31 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- Thirsty Owl

8/31 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- Thirsty Owl

8/31 6:00 PM Samantha Talora & Ron Ramsey Duo- Sofia’s of Clifton Park

8/31 6:00 PM Sass & Brass- Siro’s

8/31 6:00 PM Shannon Tehya & The Troupe… Taylor Swift Tribute- Unihog

8/31 6:00 PM Steve Candlen- Prime at Saratoga National

8/31 6:00 PM Take Two- Galley Bar & Grill

8/31 6:00 PM Thom Powers- Powers Pub

8/31 6:30 PM Jeanne O’Conner Duo- Panza’s Saratoga

8/31 6:30 PM Rich Ortiz- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

8/31 6:30 PM Stef Solo- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

8/31 7:00 PM Completely Different Band- Kraverie

8/31 7:00 PM Derrick Forget- Druthers Clifton Park

8/31 7:00 PM Jeff Brisbin- Druthers Schnectady

8/31 7:00 PM Jukebox Rebellion- The Horseshoe Bar & Grill

8/31 7:00 PM Radio Junkies- Lago’s by Druthers

8/31 7:00 PM TBD- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

8/31 7:00 PM The 80’s Band- Beach Bar at Dock Browns Tavern

8/31 7:00 PM The Sound Minds- Albany Distilling Company

8/31 7:00 PM Vinyl Evolution- Quarters

8/31 8:00 PM DJ Dillon Robert- Misfit

8/31 8:00 PM Judith Owen- Caffe Lena

8/31 8:00 PM Maybe Sam- DRuthers Saratoga

8/31 8:00 PM Rob Lindquist Quartet- Nine Maple

8/31 8:00 PM TBD- Druthers Saratoga

8/31 8:30pn Dock Horton & Jay St. Band- Frog Alley Brewing

8/31 9:00 PM Coverups- Caroline St. Pub

8/31 9:00 PM DJ Jason Smith & DJ Jonesy- Night Owl

8/31 9:00 PM Kevin McKrell- Parting Glass

8/31 9:00 PM The Blackouts- Saratoga City Tavern

8/31 9:00 PM The Schmooze- Centre St. Pub

8/31 9:00 PM The Ultimates- The Wild Horse

Sunday, September 1st

Walker Hayes: Same Drunk Tour, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 7pm

with special guests Kylie Morgan and Tenille Arts

Steel Panther – On The Prowl World Tour, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

“Bar People.”

9/1 1:00 PM IMI Band- Saratoga Race Course

9/1 1:00 PM IMI Band- Spa City Tap & Barrel

9/1 1:00 PM Reggie’s Red Hot Feetwarmers … StrollingSaratoga Race Course

9/1 1:00 PM Upstate Bluegrass Band… Strolling Saratoga Race Course

9/1 10:30 AM Anthony Cubbage- The Scarlet Knife

9/1 3:00 PM Jeff Brisbin- Druthers Clifton Park

9/1 7:00 PM Eric Andersen- Caffe Lena

9/1 7:00 PM Mike Thomas- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

9/1 9:00 PM The Dude Abides- Ice House

9/1/ 3:00 PM Steve Candlen- DRuthers Saratoga

Eyehategod / Exhorder / Hans Condor @ Empire Underground, 8/25/2024

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Staff
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Review by Jesse Skinner.

Eyehategod, the sludge metal legends from NOLA, hit up Albany, New York’s Empire Underground on August 25th, 2024, as part of their headlining Turn Troubled Tables US Tour. They are touring with support from veteran NOLA metal band Exhorder and opening act, Nashvilles Tennessees own Hans Condor.
The Nashville trio Hans Condor took the stage to an eager crowd. Performing a highly energetic, heavy, in your face, loud, and at times comedic set to the crowd of innocent bystanders. They momentarily broke into a rendition of the opening of War Pigs by Black Sabbath. The frontman jumped into an opening in the crowd and performed his intensity into the audience that surrounded him. Hans Condor proved that they have the essence of rock n’ roll and punk rock. The Nashville traveling musicians definitely left their mark on Upstate NY by leaving the crowd wanting more.
NOLA Thrash Metal Groove Titans, Exhorder performed a flawless set showing Albany why they are revered as the originators of the thrash-groove sound. This marked Exhorder’s debut performance in Albany, NY, and the significant impact they have on the NOLA music scene was clearly evident to the crowd. Kyle Thomas, frontman and guitarist is the bands sole consistent member. Exhorder had all eyes on them with Sasha Horn solidifying the tempo of the Groove on the drums, Jason Viebrocks bass rattling heads, and Pat O’Briens face melting solos and leads. Kyle Thomas displayed a force to be reckoned with as the leader of the band and proving to Albany why Exhorder is one of the top tier metal bands to visit the area. Their new album, Defectum Omnium, was released on March 8, 2024.
Sludge metal Veterans and one of the most notable bands to ever come out of the NOLA metal scene, Eyehategod treated Empire Underground to a dose of self-medicated blues and suffering to close out the night. The powerful riffs of Jimmy Bower matched with Gary Madar on bass shook the concrete walls and floors of the venue. Combined with Aaron Hills Groove of madness on drums and Mike IX Williams vocal agony, Eyehategod delightfully bombed the crowd with walls of distortion and feedback. The Nola Veterans were feeding off the energy of the crowd performing a solid set without missing a step. The conclusion of every song ended with a huge roar from the crowd proving why Eyehategod is one of the premiere underground heavy metal bands on tour and is a must-see live act. Eyehategod will be finishing off the last leg of The Turn Troubled Tables Tour through the Northeast and North Central of the United States with their last scheduled show for September 1st in Chicago Illinois.
Photography by Rachael Skinner.

Interview: Erin Powers (Powersiren) -By: Rob Smittix

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Staff
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Interview: Erin Powers (Powersiren)
By: Rob Smittix

RRX: So you said when I first called you that you spilled coffee on your phone?

EP: Yeah.

RRX: But your phone’s still working. Thank God, nobody needs to have to replace a phone, if they don’t have to. They’re expensive these days.

EP: I know I was like, oh sh**!

RRX: Are you an Android or an iPhone person?

EP: I’m Android but I’ve used iPhone before. So I’m either.

RRX: I’m team Android all the way, people make fun of us but I’m making fun of people for paying more and getting pretty much the same.

EP: Yeah, right?

RRX: Art Fredette, the boss man, has been telling me to reach out to you for a while but we’re very busy, so I apologize for finally getting you on the line. I sent you that picture of my calendar note that read “reach out to Erin Powers.” So here we are today to talk about your newest project Powersiren?

EP: Yep.

RRX: Explain what Powersiren is all about.

EP: Well, Powersiren is basically an anagram of my name. We tried finding a whole bunch of band names and whatnot… we couldn’t come up with any because most of them were taken. Justin (Harrington) decided to use my name and took the letters of my name and basically came up with that.

RRX: I like the name. I like it a lot. I mean, it’s literally got your full last name in it.

EP: Pretty much, it’s just kind of backwards. But, yeah.

RRX: You’re the front person of the group, right? So you do the singing and guitar playing. What is Justin’s role in the duo?

EP: He does the backtracks. He plays accordion, electric guitar and bass and I also play keyboards.

RRX: Ok. So you play the keyboards as well, I was curious.

EP: Yeah.

RRX: That’s cool. Accordion, I love that. I was gifted an old accordion once with all of those millions of buttons on that one side.

EP: Yeah, he’s got an updated one. So…

RRX: Yeah, those are much better. I, I have to look at the phone when I’m dialing numbers and I still look at the keyboard when I’m typing. So yeah, the accordion just was not for me. I can get some of the keys down but forget about it.

EP: Yeah, it’s definitely an acquired skill. I definitely appreciate him for learning it because I look at it and I’m like what? I’m not even going to touch it. That’s not my cup of tea. But you know? If you can master it, great and he seemed to master it!

RRX: Well, that’s cool. So you got this new EP… Is this is out already?

EP: Yeah, it’s already out. It came out in June. It’s a self-titled “Powersiren” EP with 4 tracks.

RRX: Cool, we’re going to have to get all of those songs in our library on RadioRadioX. Is there any certain direction or message you’re putting out there or is every song it’s own thing?

EP: I think that songs are kind of doing their own thing. “On Fire,” “Broken Record” and “Keep Up With The Changes.” So those are the songs and we did a dance-remix to “Broken Record” as well.

RRX: A remix, that sounds interesting.

EP: Yeah, I wanted a remix of one of my songs for the longest time and Justin was able to do it!

RRX: I’ll have to check that one out. I’ve seen it’s on Spotify. Where else can people find it?

EP: It’s everywhere because we put it out from Distrokid. It’s all over, I don’t even know half of the places because there’s too many.

RRX: That’s cool. So, it’s pretty much like you said.. everywhere.

EP: Yeah. Except Bandcamp. I think that’s the only place it’s not on. I’m not sure.

RRX: I don’t think anyone goes to Bandcamp anymore unless you’re a band on Bandcamp.

EP: I mean, I have sh** out that’s on there but I never really got anything off of it but I mean, people go to it. I’m not really updated or up to date on how that all works with the Bandcamp.

RRX: I hate the internet. It’s a necessary evil that us that promote things have to use. But you’ve been a musician for a long time. I guess, for people that are not yet familiar with you that are now going to be introduced to you… tell them a little bit about yourself. I mean, who is Erin Powers? What are you all about?

EP: I’m a singer songwriter from Upstate New York. I’ve been playing in lot of bands since I was 21. I also DJ and do karaoke sometimes. I also DJ weddings and private events. I’ve played in Mass, Vermont, Connecticut and I played in Tennessee a couple of times. I’ve done some festivals out there and I’ve done a lot of benefits over the years.

RRX: I love that. I’ve been saying this to a lot of the bands around here because I’ve been in a band for about 20 years now but one thing that we realized was that we had to leave the area. I think a lot of the bands around here just play too much sometimes in the area and I mean… of course, you’ve gotta do the home stuff. But. let’s not forget, even if you have a full time job, you could do a little weekend kind of thing and drive up to five hours away and get stuff done. I think that’s the approach a lot of bands are missing the boat on.

EP: This year not so much for us. We did a lot all over already. From Tupper Lake all the way up to Lake Placid. That’s the farthest I think I’ve done this year. A couple of years ago I played in Buffalo. I don’t mind playing King’s Inn. I used to play in Kingston, Saugerties and and all that too.

RRX: Anything else that you would wanna say to people that would inspire them to go check out your music?

EP: I think what we’re doing is pretty cool. Like you said, we’re still pretty new in the area. I’ve been in and out of bands for like 15-20 years, you know? Always starting new stuff and then seeing where it goes. I’d like to get in some bigger shows, like theaters and stuff and I think that’s gonna be what we’re gearing towards. Maybe in the winter some ski resorts and some bigger venues. I’d like to get into or even open up for some other bands.. That would probably be my goal.

RRX: Well, I see you’ve got yourself a good game plan. I like it!

Powersiren will be playing these shows in September
9/1: Angry Egg 2, 467 Main St, Bennington, VT -11am
9/5: Rensselaer Farmers Market, Riverfront Park, Rensselaer, NY -4pm
9/6: Bandstand Brew Works, 3922 Main St, Warrensburg, NY -5pm
9/7: Block Party, 144 Main St, South Glens Falls, NY -11am
9/7: Ledge Rock Hill Winery , 1776 Route 9, Lake George, NY -5pm

The Refrigerators / Matty & Ky @ Rockin’ on the River, 8/21/2024

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Kyle and Matty D brought the acoustic duo music, before the Refrigerators brought out the party mode.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

 

 

More from Timothy Reidy …

Week Thirty-Five: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “At-Home Film Festival”

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Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week airs EVERY WEDNESDAY at 8pm Eastern on RadioRadioX.com!

This is Jesse Sample. Every once in a great while, I wake up and decide that I am going to change my plans and stay home for the day…and just chill. Like you, I have a hundred responsibilities and things I am working on. But life is short and sometimes the best thing you can do is stay home and enjoy watching movies from bed.

And what could be more fun than picking a director and admiring the great film that they and their team created? I’ve been into Stanley Kubrick lately. Most of us have seen Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket, but the early stuff is fun because you get to see a great master take his baby steps with nothing but a shoestring budget and some pretty flimsy promises.

And what fun is an “at home film fest” without the great comfort foods. Much like the young Francis Ford Coppola, I also like Italian and Chinese food. Maybe I am capable of greatness!

Thanks to all of you out there in the movies of your lives, listening to RadioRadioX. This is the Freak of the Week, “At-Home Film Festival”

Sirsy @ Iron Spring Park, 8/20/2024

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Sirsy was back for Ballston Spa’s Concerts in the Park series. This was a show rescheduled from August 8 due to weather.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

 

 

More from Timothy Reidy …

Lori Friday – An Xperience Interview

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Lori Friday

Lori Friday – An Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

We caught up with bassist Lori Friday of Super 400. Here’s what we talked about.

RRX: Your newest album is called “Live from Troy, NY.” When I saw you last, I grabbed a different album, “Blast the Message,” by accident. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the new one is live. Was it all one show, or cuts from different shows? And what challenges did you face doing a live album that you wouldn’t face doing a studio album?

LF: Your instincts are right on. “Live from Troy, NY” is a live recording from January 19, 2024, at the Hangar on the Hudson (get it at bandcamp.com!). We didn’t record the show with any plan to cultivate an album release. We were just looking to grab some audio clips for the videographer we hired that evening. We’ve been making an effort to populate our Instagram and Facebook lately, even though the three of us take to social media like a duck to a desert!

The front-of-house engineer at the Hangar, Troy Pohl, suggested we ditch the plan to use our little recording setup and offered to make a multitrack of the show. We sat on the recording for a while, because for us, putting some distance between the performance and the listen gives us a chance to dissolve our memories of it. When we finally hit play, we all agreed that we wanted to release it to our fans. We had been slowly working on a full-length studio album, but this live set was in our hands and only needed to be mixed and mastered.

I had a health scare the week before and had a biopsy performed.  My doctor said I would not get the results until January 22 (the show was the 19th).  I have a history of health issues, so the band was on edge leading up to this show. Lots of tension. Five minutes before we went on stage, I got a notification saying my results were in (modern technology…). I looked at Kenny, who said “You gotta check it!” Results were negative. The rest of the night was fueled by an almost uncontrollable amount of endorphins and adrenaline. When I listen to this recording, I hear it. We’re at the top of our powers.

RRX: The bio on your website is great. I love it when bands care about that. Good stuff, because now I know that when you came into the band in 1996, you had just gotten a degree in vertebrate paleontology. What was the mental, or maybe “life,” transition between the world of fossilized rock to the world of butt-shaking rock?

LF: Superfriend and longtime fan Jim Meaney wrote that bio! Shoutout to Jim! I came from a family of academics, and it was expected that I would complete college-level education. I knew I would make my livelihood in music or art, so I decided to have fun in college and study something interesting. I dug up dinosaurs in the black hills of North Dakota.

I planned to continue for post-grad, but I walked into Pauly’s Hotel one night and saw Kenny and Joe playing onstage with some friends. That was it for me; fate allowed me entry into their world, and the transition was very natural. Not so much for my family, though. It took them about 10 years to accept it and gain confidence that I had a secure future.

RRX: Cacaphone Records, in helping put together your debut album, maxed out their credit cards. Island Records signed you to a five-record deal after just hearing you; no quarterly projects, no ledger sheets, just believing. It must have been a lot to live up to. Was it?

LF: We didn’t truly appreciate the expectation of being a major label artist. Maybe that was a good thing. We only knew how to be us. We recorded a completely honest record. Geoff Travis and Chris Blackwell believed in us because we had a sincere sound, and they wanted us to help bring rock music back to the masses. In 1998, our record had barely come out when Seagram Company purchased Polygram. We parted ways. Then people wanted us to sound like whatever was popular at the time, in order to continue on the major league level. That didn’t interest us, so we went our own way and have stayed largely independent since.

RRX: So when I saw you, I didn’t know which album was your current, so I ended up with “Blast the Message,” your sophomore album. Wildly popular. Can you tell us a little bit about it, and how you feel you’ve transitioned from that album, which is now going back decades?

LF: “Blast the Message” was an album we made after several huge life changes. The major label deal ended, our manager quit, and we were told our new demo wasn’t mainstream enough to be picked up by another label.

It could have been a soul-crushing ordeal, but it never occurred to us that we needed to change anything. We had an incredible lawyer who had written a play-or-pay clause into our Island contract, so we had enough money to pay our bills while we regrouped to write the “Blast the Message” album.

From then ‘til now is a long time – we’ve lived a few lifetimes and picked up several emotional and physical bruises and gifts. No different than anyone else who lives a span of 20 years. Marriage, a daughter, love, loss, unbelievable adventures.

RRX: Interestingly, you got booted from a Hell’s Kitchen show, and your fans got out the pitchforks, getting you back on the bill. This show of support isn’t exactly the starter kit for any band. You get that for more than just playing, more than just being good. Can you tell us more about your fans?

LF: We were originally slated to open for an incredible NYC all-star group, Peaceful Knievel. These guys are the cream of the crop. Mike Farris on vocals, Andy Hess on bass, Audley Freed on guitar, George Laks on keys, and Charlie Drayton on the drums. Every one of these guys is a legend and the very best in the business. Not just NYC royalty, but truly world-class players. And yes, we were bumped from the bill – something about the door guy’s band wanting to open the show, I think.

This was in the days of message boards. For those who don’t know, fans of a band would congregate in a chat room of sorts, sharing their thoughts, ideas, photos, etc.  Super 400 fans had a strong presence on a Black Crowes message board. A big crew of them found out about the lineup situation and called the club to ask for their money back. Next thing I knew, the owner of the club – a tough biker sort – called us on the phone and said we were back on the bill, but we’d “better be good, or I’ll kick your ass personally.”

So, as you imagine, our drive to NYC was uneasy and we didn’t have much to say during load-in and soundcheck. The night’s outcome was yet to be determined and it could make or break us in that part of the city. Well, our fans turned up to support us and we had a great set. Afterward, the Peaceful Knievel guys embraced us fully and we hung backstage well into the night, trading stories and laughs.

Our fans have always been like family. When we regularly toured the states, some would travel to several shows, which was a morale boost and great fun. We were touring Spain and the same thing would happen – some fans appeared in several different cities, and their dedication profoundly touched us.

We aren’t rock stars; we have never put on any airs, and our fans know it. We play our music for each other, every time, but a big piece of our heart is with the fans when we perform. It’s like playing for a big extended family. They become part of the lifeblood of the band.

RRX: You and Kenny (Hohman) were married in 2011, and you had your daughter Ellie in 2013. Now, you and Kenny had already been in a band relationship for over a decade, so maybe not much changed. But did you have to carve out the “music relationship” from the “married relationship?”

LF: When I joined the band in 1996, there was an agreement that no one would get romantically involved. The three of us became very fast friends and shared everything, all aspects of our lives. Kenny and I had a natural attraction that grew to a point where it became uncomfortable to hide it. Joe gave his blessing. We knew we were risking the life of the band by taking a chance on one another. We had spent several years sharing band life: planes, trains, and automobiles; cheap hotels, bad food, unsavory situations, etc. We were friends before we were a couple, so we never put on an act. And we still truly liked one another. I will like him when he is 95.

Musically, we are continuing the same conversation we started at our first jam session all those years ago. Every day is a thrill.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Warden And Co – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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Warden And Co

Warden And Co – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: I know when pitching it helps to tell someone it’s “this meets that.” So let’s try that with you. If you had to give me two bands that meet each other in your sound, what are those bands? More than two bands?

WC: The most humbling comparison that we’ve heard on our most recent album “Somewhere” was “Traveling Wilburys meets Dave Matthews Band”, and when I think of the legendary musicians that made up the Wilbury’s, it really does capture the landscape of music that I was raised on.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

WC: We’ve been labeled “Folk Rock Troubadours” in the past, which definitely captured the “vibe” of our music, however we’ve recently demo’d this killer track where I am rapping on the verses and the music sounds like it could be on POP radio!  So “genre” to us has become something to push the boundary of, and to take the elements of music within those genres that excite us and try to combine them to make something new.  Which is exactly how hip hop started in the late 70’s!

RRX: Let’s talk about your next project, your next few. Just not the ones you’re working on now. The ones you have your eyes on for the future. What’s coming to us?

WC: The next project is with the incredibly talented LOVELLA; who made her singing debut on Warden and Co.’s song “Somewhere” (the title track of our most recent album) when she was only 13 years old.  Now 16, she has released her debut EP “Outgrown” and Warden and Co. will be backing her at the official release show at Caffe Lena September 19th.

RRX: With services like Spotify, streaming revenue can be pretty dismal. Without spilling secrets, do you have a promotional mindset or philosophy?

WC: This is a challenging question, yet an important one to talk about. I have released multiple genres of music completely independently of record labels.  There is no marketing machine behind our art, just us.  These streaming services are one of only a few opportunities for independent artists to reach a broader audience, a global audience.  I have an album called “Instrumental Lullabies” that has over 2 million streams on Spotify alone, and I’ve done absolutely nothing to promote it…it just happened.  I do feel the monetary aspect for the creators is poor and as you stated “dismal”, at the same time I have to be grateful to have the ability to reach people all around the world with our music.  This topic is a double edged sword and gets complicated very quickly, so my philosophy is “if you create it, they will listen”.

RRX: Every band has a song that they really thought was going to be popular, but it wasn’t. What was that song for you? Did you have a song become popular that you didn’t expect?

WC: This is a great question!  As I mentioned, I’ve released multiple genres of music and one of those is “Family and Children’s” music under the name “Seth and the Moody Melix” with violinist Doug Moody and percussionist Brian Melick.  We have a song called “Pickle Pie” that took off on us and eventually had us performing on the FOOD NETWORK (twice!) and touring with chef “Paula Deen” through the state of TN.  The song was originally written for my children, with no pre-tense of success or radio-play, just for the love of making music and inspiring kids, so look what can happen when you make art for the love of it!

RRX: In the musical world, there are many supporting players. Recording engineers, sound techs, cover art designers. Who are three people that support the craft that you would like to shine a spotlight on?

WC: I must shine a spotlight on one of the greatest sound engineers/producers that I’ve had the honor of working with, Albany’s own; Sean Quackenbush.  We started working together over two decades ago and quickly became friends to both of us standing for one another at our weddings.  This year Sean was awarded a Grammy Award for his incredible work with Joni Mitchell, and to see this accomplishment, through all his hard work and sacrifices, is one of the most inspiring moments in my musical world.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Moe. Melvin Seals, JGB to Headline Adirondack Independence Music Festival

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Moe.

Moe. and Melvin Seals & JGB set to Headline

Adirondack Independence Music Festival in Lake George this Labor Day Weekend

If you are looking to see some great music this Labor Day Weekend, the Adirondack
Independent Music Festival is the place to be! Returning for its 9 th year, the festival will once
again take place at the beautiful Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George, NY,
Friday, August 30 thru Sunday, September 1 and will feature several of the premiere touring
bands currently on the festival circuit.

Headlining this year’s festival will be Upstate New York jamband moe., who will perform 2 sets
each night on Saturday and Sunday, and Melvin Seals & JGB, performing 2 sets on Friday. The
stacked lineup will also feature performances by Grammy-nominated, progressive bluegrass act,
Yonder Mountain String Band, Twiddle frontman, Mihali, whose band also features Twiddle
members Zdenek Gubb and Adrian Tramontano, and Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime. But it
doesn’t stop there. The three-day event will also include performances by Pink Talking Fish,
Spafford, lespecial, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Moon Hooch, RAQ, Cool Cool Cool,
Lucid, Wild Adriatic, Hayley Jane Band, Bella’s Bartok, Yam Yam, Kendal Street Company,
Strange Machines, The Frank White Experience: A Live Tribute to The Notorious B.I.G.,
Crooked Coast and One Time Weekend.

Hailed by American Songwriter for their “mind-bending musicality,” moe. is treasured for their
mesmerizing musical synergy, unfettered showmanship, and smart, resonant songcraft. For three
decades, the band has corralled myriad musical forms on a truly original journey rich with crafty,
clever songwriting and astonishing resourcefulness. Fueled by an impassioned fan base, moe. has
spent much of those thirty years on the road, encompassing countless live performances marked
by eclectic wit, deep friendship, and exploratory invention.

Melvin Seals has been a powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years with a long-
established reputation as a performer, recording artist and producer. Melvin is most revered for
his powerful, high-spirited, Hammond B-3 organ, and keyboards in the Jerry Garcia Band.
Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped
pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music”. From blues to funk to rock to jazz,
Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up.
Continuously on the road with his band JGB, featuring John Kadlecik, John-Paul McLean and
Jeremy Hoenig, Melvin Seals continues to spread the music of Jerry Garcia Band and more.
In addition to lots of great music, the festival will also feature a variety of food and craft vendors
as well a great view of the Lake George fireworks on Saturday evening.

Music at the festival commons is scheduled to start at 1:00pm on Friday and 12:00pm on
Saturday and Sunday and will go until 11:00pm each night. All ages are welcome to attend and
children 12 and under are free (general admission)

For tickets and more information, visit the festival website at www.adkmusicfest.com.

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