TOPIC: CONCERTS
Handed the impossibly awesome task of picking only seven summer concerts in a region drawing everyone from Phish to Styx (and TAKE maybe Phish Styx?), Jessica Novak weighs in on a few of the must-see shows of summer 2014.
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By Jessica Novak
Who to see
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The Lost Horizon. Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. $20 and $25. Thelosthorizon.com. He mixes genres in his shows like he’s baking a cake.
Melissa Etheridge
The OnCenter Crouse-Hinds Theater. Thursday, June 19, 8 p.m. $43 to $83. This powerhouse visits Syracuse on her solo tour, “This is ME,” performing piano, harmonica and guitar throughout the show.
Ringo Starr & his All Starr Band
Must see: The Lone Bellow. Smith Opera House. Saturday, June 7, 8 p.m. $20 and $24. thesmith.org. Photo by Bradley Siefert / Flickr
The Turning Stone Event Center. Wednesday, June 25, 8 p.m. $39 to $80. The Beatle legend will come with his ever-rotating supergroup, performing both Beatles classics and songs from his solo career.
DON’T MISS THIS BAND ON THE RISE
W
ith stunning three-part harmonies and heart-wrenching songwriting, the Brooklyn-based Lone Bellow has been lighting the world on fire since its explosive self-titled debut album was released in January 2013.
They conquered South by Southwest soon after (in March), leaving fest-goers with the band’s name on their lips. The album was called one of the best of the year by People Magazine and has been lauded by, among others, The New York Times, The Associated Press, Paste, Forbes and Filter. The group — featuring lead vocalist and songwriter Zach Williams, mandolin player and singer Kanene Pipkin and singer/guitarist Brian Elmquist — combines vintage stylings with modern tastes, creating a brilliant and eerily enveloping sound. Though the term “Brooklyn band” might come loaded with assumptions in 2014, this group breaks the mold by delivering authentic country soul (all three have Southern roots) with palpable conviction, only further proven in their haunting live performances. Though the band emerged at a time flush with acts of the same vein (think Mumford & Sons, The Civil Wars and The Lumineers), they’ve effectively carved out their own path and proven it through the intense success they’ve drawn in their short time on the scene.
The trio started when Williams’ wife was injured in a horseback riding accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down. Williams picked up the guitar and started writing songs focusing on prominent themes in his life, including tragedy and hope. After recovering, the couple moved in 2010 to Brooklyn, where they met Elmquist (who had gone to school at Lynchburg College with Williams) and Pipkin. They began as Zach Williams & The Lone Bellow, shortening the name by the time they joined Descendant Records. At times, they also include Ben Mars on bass, Brian Murphy on keyboards, Matt Knapp on lap steel and electric guitar, Jason Pipkin on banjo and mandolin and Brian Griffin on drums. This band on the rise is a must-see for music-lovers of all types. SNT
Lake Street Dive
The Westcott Theater. Thursday, June 26, 8 p.m. $17. This Brooklyn-based super funky jazz/soul fourpiece formed in Boston in 2004.
Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate
The Westcott Theater. Friday, Aug. 22, 9 p.m. The hometown hero will return once again, with Kouyate, for another knockout.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Steve Winwood
Follow Jessica Novak on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JessRockNovak, on Twitter at twitter.com/ JessRock87 and on Instagram at @JessRock87. Darien Lake. Sunday, Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m. $37 to $131. Ticketmaster.com. It’s tough to beat this team of classic rock royalty. syracusenewtimes.com | 2014 S U M M E R T I M E S
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