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Big Sam’s Funky Nation w/Oobleck

By on October 31, 2012 in Events

In an ongoing run of fantastic horn bands coming through town, Oobleck will happily be opening for Big Sam’s Funky Nation at Red Square in just a few short weeks.  High octane would be a conservative description of the band.  This six piece from New Orleans takes no prisoners, which in this case means you better be on the dance floor getting down, and if you’re not, you better have your head checked.

Show details:
Big Sam’s Funky Nation w/Oobleck
Friday November 9th
Red Square, Albany
$10, doors at 8pm, show at 9ish

About Big Sam:
Big Sam’s Funky Nation has boldly established their presence at the forefront of the vibrant New Orleans music scene. Trombone powerhouse and band leader “Big Sam” Williams has been celebrated as “the top man on the slide trombone in the birthplace of jazz” by the San Francisco Chronicle and the band has been consistently touted for “bringing a straight raw party” by Jambase.  Big Sam’s Funky Nation amps their acclaimed Noladelic Powerfunk sound to frenetic levels and sparks energetic dance marathons, making for unforgettable live performances. Don’t even try to sit still when BSFN takes the stage…

“Big Sam’s Funky Nation is in rare company as far as their ability to incite a huge dance-a-thon, and their set included his take on “Hard To Handle” and the declaration that Sam is the king of the Jazz Fest [2011] party.” – Wesley Hodges, Jambase

He’s got the chops of Louis, the charisma of Dizzy, the oomph of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and the understanding that it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing… and a whole lotta funk.
-Rachel Levitin, WeLoveDC.com

Sights & Sounds:
www.bigsamsfunkynation.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJUih-Irh7o

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About Oobleck:

Oobleck is a five piece funk based instrumental horn band hailing from the Capital Region of New York. And when we say funk, we actually mean funked-out-afro-grunge-rock-alt-dub-whatever. It’s a melee of horns, super heavy drums and bass and your favorite type of chunky guitar riffing that leaves your ass shaking and your face grinning.Balancing razor sharp horn lines with live group improvisation, Oobleck mesmerizes…delving fearlessly where the moment takes them. Pushing the bounds of sound, Oobleck’s funk is an unbridled expression of the dark and light: a quintet’s worth of energy and synergy, infusing you with the raw love of music that comes only from playing, dancing and breathing from a place deep down. In the end, it’s funk to fuel your soul.

Sights & Sounds:
www.oobleckfunk.com

Hope to see you on the dance floor!

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Restaurant Review – Capital City Gastropub

By on October 8, 2012 in Restaurant Reviews

Scott and I had a rough Saturday. We found out his car needs an awful lot of work. It was a major downer on an otherwise nice rainy Saturday spent hanging out around the house. We were also pumped about the MMW show at the St. Rose Massry Center for the Arts that night, but thinking about the wallet wrenching we are about to experience dampened our excitement.

We had to stop by the dealership in Albany to discuss our options before the show, so it made sense to grab dinner in Albany (“Let’s go somewhere really expensive!” – Scott, haw haw). We needed a reasonably priced place with an exceptional beer list to help us forget our frustrations for a little while. The Capital City Gastropub was the perfect fit.

I had the Sixpoint Lager, and Scott had the Merry Monk. I used to be a bigger fan of Belgian style beers but the Merry Monk was a weird, complicated explosion of intense flavors. The Lager was aptly named as crisp and refreshing.

The poutine was excellent. They offer an option with foie gras which seems kind of unnecessary. This was salty and strong flavored to begin with – with foie gras, I think it would be too heavy.

Scott got fried chicken with fried potato salad. It was coated with a chili honey which was really good. It was somewhat reminiscent of duck sauce.

I had the fish tacos. The bright pickled cabbage was a nice touch. I ate it with a liberal dose of choloula sauce. Yum. The freeze dried (?) corn kernels were an interesting touch.

The vanilla creme brulee was eggy and yummy.

I like how they decorated their foyer with keg labels.

Overall, a cute place with solid, interesting food. We got there around 6pm and enjoyed a reasonably quiet dining experience with the other early birds. It got a little more boisterous by the end of our meal, with one particular table having two loud, drunk girls being obnoxious. Not a fault of the restaurant, but if you like a somewhat quieter meal, go early. And don’t be that guy (or girl), please.

MMW was fantastic, as always. Day redeemed (for now, until we find out whether the transmission is worse off than we thought..)

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Oobleck – New Album & CD Release Party

By on October 5, 2012 in Events

Purchase: Tell Your Mom I Said Hi

Soundscapes and wavelengths. Texture. Harmonic layers. Breathe together, listen and keep an open mind. Dig in and blow. Do what you love and don’t look back. Oobleck – funk to fuel your soul. Recorded live in our living room with minimal overdubs and processing, the sound is as it should be: thick, dark, tight and live.

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About Oobleck:

Founded in 2008, Oobleck is five piece funk based instrumental horn band hailing from the Capital Region of New York. And when we say funk, we actually mean funked-out-afro-rock-grunge-dub-whatever. It’s a melee of horns, super heavy drums and bass and your favorite type of chunky guitar riffing that leaves your ass shaking and your face grinning.

Balancing razor sharp horn lines with live group improvisation, Oobleck mesmerizes…delving fearlessly where the moment takes them. Pushing the bounds of sound, Oobleck’s funk is an unbridled expression of the dark and light: a quintet’s worth of energy and synergy, infusing you with the raw love of music that comes only from playing, dancing and breathing from a place deep down. In the end, it’s funk to fuel your soul.

Sights and sounds: www.oobleckfunk.com, www.facebook.com/oobleckfunk, www.reverbnation.com/oobleck
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About The Ameros:

The Ameros are a rock, reggae, hip-hop, and funk powerhouse that combines thought-provoking lyrics, incendiary guitar, party vibes, and solid harmonies into a musical revolution. Their debut album, “Backs Against the Wall” was picked as one of the best of 2011 by the Daily Gazette in Schenectady. I Am Entertainment Magazine gave it 4 out of 4 stars for songwriting, and a 3.5 out of 4 overall rating.

“The songs, primarily written by Calhoun and Muniz, showcase influences ranging from classic rock – artists like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin – to metal acts like Dream Theater, to hip-hop, to reggae. All these influences can be felt throughout the album, sometimes in the same song – the epic-length title track features a winding metallic riff with a midsection rap.”
Brian McElhiney – The Daily Gazette

Sights and sounds: www.theameros.com, www.reverbnation.com/theAmeros
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Show details:

Saturday October 13th
Oobleck & The Ameros
Valentine’s, Albany
$5, 18+, 9pm

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