I've got my tickets....

...on the way to me tonight. Did you get yours yet?
Joywave's first show in the ROC since becoming Joywave is this Friday at the German House. Tickets are $10 in advance. Doors at 6m.

April Showers Bring Badass Shows

So I have been excruciatingly MIA the past few weeks. But, to make up for my lack of presence, I've chased this sincere apology with the remaining concerts for April. They are pretty freakin' sweet, so let's hope this makes up for my laziness:

4/15
Cute Is What We Aim For at Mohawk Place
Power pop from the B-lo

4/16
This Is an Empire & Tubestar at Dubland Underground
Rock/electronica, Buffalo and Roc City represent

4/17
Andy Smash and the Rust Belt Hotrods at Record Archive
Punk. Indie. Christian. ROC.

Cry to the Blind, Your Own Reflection, Vanity Strikes at The German House
Rock/metal. Roc represent

Strong Willed at Flying Squirrel Community Space
Straight edge hardcore

Do It With Malice at Mohawk Place
Ska-core from Buffalo

4/18
Eve 6 at Keuka College
90's-2000's Pop punk/rock

4/20
Velvet Elvis at The Bug Jar
Garage rock sexiness

4/22
Faith and the Muse at Waterstreet
Goth electronica

4/24
Mercia, Call Me the Patriot et al at Waterstreet
Roc metal/rock

This Is a Stick Up, A Billion Ernies at Montage
Ska, punk, hardcore = awesome

4/27
Mastodon at Waterstreet
Heavy metal

4/28
The Wonder Years at Mohawk Place
Pop punk/hardcore

4/29
Angels and Airwaves, Say Anything at The Main Street Armory
Blink-offshoot rock, pop punk

4/30
Mrs. Skannotto w/Among Criminals, The Sandwich Crackers at Waterstreet
Ska & reggae

March Madness Starts Here

Winter is dying down, Roc city punks, and it's time to start creeping out of hibernation, shaking off those cobwebs, and getting ready for the concert season to arrive.  We think there's no better way to kick off our own version of March Madness by packing the upcoming weekend with local music.  Clear your schedule all weekend long, because you don't want to miss a minute of these recession-friendly shows. 

Friday the 5th
If your preferences tend to aim more towards reggae, ska and dub, get down to Dubland Underground for an extremely eclectic mix of sounds.  Look forward to a chill Friday night with bands including Two Ton Ska, Reviving Ivory, and headliner Jatas.  Tickets will only set you back the price of a beer.

Saturday the 6th
It's déjà vu all over again if you were at the German House over Thanksgiving vacation.  But, if you are a fan of down-home Rochester kids making sweet, sweet rock music and the sound of screaming 15-year-old girls, this is your show.  Headliners The Sunstreak welcome back Mochester, Avenue You, and This AM Static as openers.  Tickets are $10 through Ticketmaster, or the respective bands.

Sunday the 7th
This is the show I'm most looking forward to, if only to take notes on up-and-coming Roc talent: Vanity Strikes, Yesterday's Heroes, Every Last Thursday, Whitecliff Drive, 441 and Oh Cassandra.  $12 at the door for this Battle of the Bands DVD release party at Water Street buys you access to see some hot bands that range from pop punk to metal, some of the members still in high school.

Bring on the freakin' weekend!

New Year, New Album – Part 2

For the first few listens of Makyo Star's new self-titled album, I was a skeptic. All this time spent and post-Waiting hype? There was nothing that really stood out to make it a unique pop-punk album, other than track 9, and that was because it features a cello. The poppy vocals won out as the predominant auditory focus, and there was nothing really shocking or different about their songs.

And then, I listened in my car with the volume up.

Suddenly, all the nuances in the guitars and drums were thrust right in front of me. The songs shredded, and, most importantly, though the boys of Makyo Star have streamlined their music into a consistent sound, they have not overlooked variety. No Worries, my personal favorite, features wavering guitar riffs that are undeniably metal, especially in the latter half of the song. Then, the album rolls right into Make Believe, mixing acoustic and electric guitar into a rock anthem. Later, they supplement with the swooning notes of a cello, which layers in a more intimate depth to Silent Mouths Empty Hearts.

What is most noticeable about this album is once you really let the songs rip, there is a robust, layered texture of music on each track. It helps that the boys are all well versed in both their instruments, and others onstage. This cross-instrument understanding allows them to craft more dynamic songs, regardless of whether they develop tracking or lyrics first.

It's easy to see that Makyo Star has left the school-age story lines of albums-past behind and moved onto the reflection of relationships that makes this album accessible for many audiences. The younger Landers noted that they stepped away from the trap that many pop-punk bands fall into –a whole album about girls– and explored the life changes that come with friendships, touring, and family upset. The result is as Panek describes an "epic...raw" album. (But for you emo punks out there, the songs about girls are tracks 2, 5 and 8)

From a music development standpoint, it's their commitment and vision that is helping drive Makyo Star forward from a pop-punk band, to a rock band with pop, classic rock and punk influences. True, the guys admit that they're influenced by mainstream pop acts, but they also draw inspiration from grittier, traditional rock bands (Check out Make Believe for its Smashing Pumpkin-like guitar and Hero's Van Halen-esque riffs). Their openness to genre-bending and professional admiration of each other is what created a stellar album.

Makyo Star is available online at Amazon.com, but I recommend buying a hard copy Saturday night at the German House for their official release.

New Year, New Album – Part 1.

When the boys of Makyo Star were kids, their big finale song was a cover of Blink's anthem, Dammit. But, years later, it's their new self-titled album that truly embodies the line "I guess this is growing up." Between rehashing growing pains lyrically and the physical toll of commuting to Syracuse to record, it's no wonder that bassist Mike Landers remarks that "the making of the album impacted our lives for the whole time we were recording."

A lot has changed for this group of up-and-comers from Churchville in the last few years including a couple of lineup switches, some creative alterations and notably, their signing with Green Means Go records. However, that growing up process resulted in the core four members, brothers Mike and Tim Landers, Jon Garcia and Mike Panek, coming out on top with a new appreciation for their music development, and an album that reflects that mature outlook.

With fewer cooks in the kitchen, as they lovingly refer to their skinnied lineup, and total commitment from the rockers, came a drive to raise the musical bar from the band as we knew it. Backed by the GMG management team's vision for the future, and the members' persistent goal to always improve their musicianship, Makyo Star is the ROC local band to keep an eye on.

Stay tuned later this week for a first look at their latest album as we prepare for the CD release party at the German House on Saturday the 16th:

Time-Doors at 5:30
All Ages
Cash money- $10 presale through the bands or Ticketmaster

King Me

Retro jams are reigning blows down on the ROC this weekend. The Chesterfield Kings, Rochester's own throwback rock band of crazies, is shredding the German House Saturday night. They are a misfit group of musicians that easily have one of the best stage shows this chick has seen. Come on out if you have a genuine appreciation of rock music's past taking shape today.

Location: The German house
Time: 8PM
Cash: $25 at the door or the Bop Shop