Recent Articles
Music Articles
Frank De Blase on May 23rd, 2012
Guitars don't have lonesome strings. You can't find a melancholy key on a piano. Music in general only possesses as much emotion as its composer puts in as he or she works with the limited variations of the eight notes found in each key. Yet within this neutral medium
Choice Concerts
Frank De Blase on May 23rd, 2012
After a slight hiatus from the musical spotlight, bluesy pop soulstress Bonnie Raitt is back with "Slipstream," her first album since 2005. "Slipstream" is more of Raitt's signature bluesy twist on another batch of well-written material, including stuff by folks like Joe Henry. Raitt's playing hints at the blues
Choice Concerts
Frank De Blase on May 15th, 2012
Columbus' Two Cow Garage presents itself as a bar band, but the epic sweeps of the grandiose thrash 'n' twang cannot be denied. In the spirit of Whiskey Town with the lyrical chops of Westerberg and the abandon of the Bottle Rockets, this is one seriously compelling band. There's
Choice Concerts
Frank De Blase on May 15th, 2012
Recently I bought an old hi-fi stereo at a household sale. It was in mint condition. It had a few records the old lady who owned it used to spin, and it made me laugh because its days of spinning opera and show tunes were over. Now its tube-powered
Music Articles
Frank De Blase on May 15th, 2012
A whole lot of bands have come together for two things: to drink beer or to have fun. Rochester Celtic rockers The Sisters of Murphy weren't above pursuing both. The band formed at the beginning of the 21st century and rapidly moved from covering Celtic rockers like The Pogues
Music Articles
Frank De Blase on May 9th, 2012
When pressed for an answer on where the blues ends and rock 'n' roll begins, guitar legend Johnny Winter doesn't just jump salty on the hyperbole bandwagon.
"They're just different," he says. Despite his deadpan response over a cell phone as Winter and his band rolled through the middle of
Choice Concerts
Frank De Blase on May 9th, 2012
Melissa Manchester got her break as a back-up singer for Bette Midler. If you don't think you know Manchester, you do. Smash hits like "Midnight Blue," "Whenever I Call You Friend" (with Kenny Loggins), "Through the Eyes of Love," and "Don't Cry Out Loud" have made her a pop
Choice Concerts
Frank De Blase on May 9th, 2012
Atlanta's ZRUDA refers to itself and its music more as an exploration than a genre or a band. It's a psychedelic, prog-rock, free-jazz freak-out that caused one fan to shout, "Go back to space, you fuckers." At ZRUDA's core are the remains of Rochester's Gaylord, an equally abstract concept
Choice Concerts
Frank De Blase on May 1st, 2012
With a sound and a burning intensity that brings to mind bands like The Godfathers or The Gun Club, My Plastic Sun offers maximum bang with zero compromise. It's excitingly electrified but not at the expense of its primal underpinnings. This is a Roy Stein joint. As drummer for
Choice Concerts
Frank De Blase on April 25th, 2012
Something tells me Eastman School of Music alum Tony Levin could make music with anything - an empty wine bottle, some melted crayons, an exhaust manifold...anything. His trio Stick Men proves it. Levin, who has played conventional bass inside and out for Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, and Alice Cooper,
View All Articles
Recent Blog Posts
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on May 16th, 2012
Preaching what TAO's Dave Ferreira called "Rochesterfari," reggae legends The Wailers served up a two-hour, deep-dish groove to a mobbed Highland Park (estimates around 10,000 people) Tuesday night as part of the 2012 Lilac Festival. With Aston "Family Man" Barrett the only original Wailer left wailing, the band still rocked
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on May 13th, 2012
Despite the frail frame, Johnny Winter's blue flame still burns bright. Friday night Winter's band warmed up the Tops Stage loudly and proudly to a huge Lilac Festival crowd in Highland Park. The band was tight and followed Winter's slippery fingering with plenty of muscle shuffle. What I don't
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on May 7th, 2012
According to the officials at Sticky Lips Juke Joint, Friday night was their biggest night since New Year's Eve. My Plastic Sun had packed the joint for the band's much-anticipated debut. If it weren't for the smell of smoky grub as folks fine-dined on swine I would've sworn I
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on May 1st, 2012
It was a super-cool rock 'n' roll triple-bill Wednesday, April 25, at the German House, starring The Reverend Horton Heat. I've seen this guy around 50 times, and some shows were definitely better than others. This mid-week hootenanny was one of the best, as his trio kicked off the
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on April 23rd, 2012
Of all the Celtic rock bands I've seen over the years, Tempest is the most balanced. Bands like Flogging Molly and The Dropkick Murphys mix in plenty of Irish bravado and licks, but their sound is often dominated by the guitar and frequently accelerated time signatures. Tempest offers loud
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on April 17th, 2012
Yes, it's that time of year again, when the sweet smell of lilacs assails our noses, rivaled only by the scent of fried dough and the threat of rain. But it ain't the olfactory (look it up) thrills I'm out for at the annual Lilac Festival in Highland Park;
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on April 16th, 2012
As I was watching Cannibal Corpse pummel the crowd Friday night at Water Street Music Hall, a question came to mind: if the singer forgot any of the words, would anyone notice? The vocals sounded as if the frontman swallowed Cookie Monster. But trust me, it fit the overall
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on April 11th, 2012
Sometimes the very process of being a writer sheds light on aspects of your personality of which you might not have been aware. The ugly reality comes out. So does the beautiful truth. With all my raving over danger and rebellion and overt sexuality in music, I'm really a
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on April 9th, 2012
Thursday night was my first chance to hear the Vassar Brothers, as the band played at Sticky Lips Juke Joint. The band put out a lot of energy with its old-time rave-ups, but still managed to maintain a sweet flow within all the staccato. It was genuine American music
Music Blog
Frank De Blase on March 26th, 2012
Abilene Bar and Lounge celebrated its fourth anniversary Wednesday, March 21, as a primo roots-rock, honky-tonk gin mill and blood bank. As candles were being blown, Audio Influx provided the soundtrack, first as a funky drums-and-organ duo before slathering some guitar on top. It was like watching the band
View All Blog Posts
Recently Reviewed Movies
This author hasn't reviewed any movies.
Recently Reviewed Restaurants
This author hasn't reviewed any restaurants.
