Posts Tagged ‘Westcott Theater’

Throwback Thursday

Thursday, October 29th, 2015
Curren$y was a featured artist at the Westcott Theater in 2012. His album Canal Street Confidential comes out Dec 4. 2015.

Curren$y was a featured artist at the Westcott Theater in 2012. His album Canal Street Confidential comes out Dec 4. 2015. (pic by Maars)

Throwback Thursday

Thursday, October 16th, 2014
“New York City is bigger, Chicago is windier, Atlanta is warmer, but of all the chocolate cities, Buffalo may be the baddest….”
-Rick James
Neal Evans played at the Westcott Theater with Soulive in 2009.

Neal Evans played at the Westcott Theater with Soulive in 2009.

We caught Soulive for the first time almost a decade ago. Their brand of funk is maybe the closest thing we’ve heard to the Sound of Minneapolis (The Time, The Revolution, Flyte Tyme Productions).

Neal Evans (above) and his brother are from Buffalo, where July 9th is considered Soulive Day.

In addition to the music, Evans also scores films (most recently “The Boomer List” by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders).

Throwback Thursday: Funky Goodness

Thursday, June 19th, 2014
Maceo Parker was a key component in James Brown's rhythm section. He played the Westcott Theater in Syracuse in 2009.

Maceo Parker was a key component in James Brown’s rhythm section. He played the Westcott Theater in Syracuse in 2009.

The film ‘Get on Up,  a James Brown bio pic, will hit theaters this summer. Parker is played by Craig Robinson.

We’re Live

Tuesday, August 13th, 2013
Alex Boatman, Mike Keller & Goose

Alex Boatman, Mike Keller & Goose

This was the first band who played for the 2013 Banding Together benefit for Christine Lafave last night at the Westcott Theater. Shout out to Byron Cage, a former client and well-traveled drummer who is back in the Cuse.

Byron Cage, Drums

Byron Cage, Drums

Friday Night’s Blue Light Special

Monday, October 19th, 2009
Eric Krasnow

Eric Krasnow

Sam Kininger

Sam Kininger

Nigel Hall

Nigel Hall

Soulive made a live recording at the Westcott Theater Friday Night, featuring the Shady Horns and Nigel Hall.

Sax Machine

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Maceo Parker

Maceo Parker

Music from the saxophone can be described as hard, harsh, munificent, ethereal, soft, muted, brash or clean.  But Maceo Parker asks, “whatchu know about funk?”

Parker played a three-hour set Monday night at the Westcott Theater that was a musical mind trip.  The show featured tributes to New Orleans jazz, the folk soul of Ray Charles, rapid-fire GoGo of Chuck Brown and even a funky introduction to Shakespeare’s Hamlet (“To Be or Not to Be”)

Parker’s superior musicianship and ebullient stage presence are obviously the keys to his longevity. In his hands, the future of funk is secure.

Funky Soul Brothers

Friday, December 5th, 2008

Alan

Some things you have to see to believe; some things you must feel before you can hear.

This was the case last night when I attended a concert by Soulive for the first time last night, held at the Westcott Theater. I over heard someone in the crowd say, “if you’re going to be here, you better be upfront.” Sounded like good advice. Especially since I wanted to get a good shot and only had a wide-angle lens.  But I may have been too close. At one point Alan Evans (pictured above), hit the kick drum so hard I thought my head would blow off.  Just like that I was “baptized,” as one fan told me.

Alan Evans, along with his brother Neal, bass organist, make up the funky heart and soul of the band.  On stage they were joined by guitarist Eric Krasno and later by guest saxophonist Sam Kininger. I’d covered Kininger during a previous music fest.

To say I was impressed with Soulive would be an understatement. I found their live performance and musicianship as good as any band I’ve seen lately.  And their energy was like Red Bull mixed with Amp.

The Syracuse crowd gave new meaning to the word fanatics,  but on the other hand, I found a lot of musicians in the audience.

Made for a sweaty, yet sophisticated party.

The opening act was the Ithaca band Thousands of One, which featured our friend Will Sapp on background vocals. Glad to see he and his band were in such good company.

The  beat goes on.