A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
February 24, 2014

If you’re under 35 years of age, you almost certainly owned a copy of “Sixteen Stone”-  that all-to-familiar copper-colored cover image with white cursive font outlining some British band named Bush.  That means you’re likely in one of two camps- a female, utterly and completely infatuated with the band’s frontman Gavin Rossdale or a male, more likely to have lied about owning said album before going home, drawing the shades in your mother’s house and hoping not to ‘let the days go by’ in the same vein as one of the band’s most popular ballads. Either way, released in late 1994, the band exploded into our collective consciousness with a smattering of hit songs and music videos that allured us toward their charismatic frontman. And now twenty years later, despite some lineup re-shufflings, Bush triumphantly returned to New York City on Tuesday night where a nearly sold out Best Buy Theater was stuffed with fans awaiting the band’s anticipated arrival.

Touring in support of October’s ”Man on the Run,” the band’s sixth studio release, you might have expected Rossdale and his mates to have slowed down some as he miraculously nears his fiftieth birthday. His energy-laced performance proved nothing of the sort as the band exploded onto center stage with “The Sound of Winter,” a peppy, catchy opener that appropriately started the show on the right foot. Looking as if he’s barely aged, Rossdale bounced around on stage with his short hair pulled back above a tight white shirt and an NBA style shooting sleeve, likely to keep his strumming arm warm as he led the band through tracks like “This House Is on Fire,” an outstanding take of “Greedy Fly” and “The Chemicals Between Us.”

Equipped with plenty of bass heavy tracks laid down by Corey Britz, the band’s one hundred minute set continually peppered the audience with faster rock tracks rather than ballads, allowing Rossdale’s relentless energy to rarely waver. Vocally, the frontman remains at the top of his game evidenced by his ability to admirably hit just about all of the notes in songs regardless of where they were released in the band’s catalog. New tracks like “The Gift” and “Man on the Run” were performed with the same vigor as the likes of “Speed Kills” and “Swallowed,” though candidly the grungier “Letting the Cables Sleep” was perhaps the band’s non-encore shining moment.

Before launching into a string of their iconic and most successful singles to close the show- sandwiched around a fun Talking Heads cover of “Once in a Lifetime”- Rossdale remarked that in appreciation of their fans, the band makes sure to play the many hits that brought them to the dance. And so capping the main set with “Little Things” into a raucous encore of “Machinehead,” a stirring solo rendition of “Glycerine” and finally closing the evening with “Comedown” all made plenty of sense. The entire room erupted for the show’s final 25 or so minutes as Rossdale would leave the stage bringing his energy with him out onto the standing room floor and even up toward the venue’s seats, giving fans exactly what they were hoping for- up close and personal. Perhaps that explains the band’s staying power over the past two decades- exceeding audience expectations time and time again.  Though they’ve certainly been written off more than once, Bush still seems to have their best days ahead of them.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Sometimes there’s simply nothing better in wintertime than curling up next to a fire with a hearty bottle of wine. In reality, not many of us in New York City have access to a working fireplace, but with the essence of that theme in mind, Saturday marked the Sixth Annual NYC Winter Wine Festival, returning for two jam packed sessions to the Best Buy Theater in Times Square. Despite the frigid temperatures during the three hour evening session that had us yearning to be parading around the neighborhood in a head-to-toe Elmo costume, once inside we were quickly warmed up by a delicious spread, friendly faces and outstanding wines.

Normally utilized as a concert venue, the Theater is perpetually transformed into a its very own tasting room, replete with more than 250 different wines from around the world. It’s a reasonably priced opportunity for novice drinkers and expert oenophiles to unite and sample new tasting experiences for the very first time as contemporary jazz is performed live right on the legendary stage in front of the room. Before getting started, our glasses remained empty as we filled up on an array of distinctive meats, cheeses and breads which would prove pivotal to our enjoyment of the evening- a delicious precursor for what would follow.

Although the space was packed with thirsty wine enthusiasts, the Theater to its credit tends to utilize every bit of space to host different pouring stations. Many folks might prefer that the wines be separated by region, but with each distributor bringing a selection curated by Vintry Fine Wines, it’s a nice change of pace to be able to taste some wines from California, Italy, France and New Zealand all at one table to gain a better understanding of one’s palate. With commemorative wine glasses in hand, we began to taste our way around the world beginning with the pacific northwest and the affordably priced bottle of “The Velvet Devil,” a 2013 Merlot from Washington came calling toward us. At just $13, the complex red bursted with cherry from the first big sip, nicely spiced through the finish.

Continuing with red wines, the similarly delicious yet entirely different Viticcio 2012 “Chianti Classico” was a particularly notable wine. The approachable berry-forward flavors were evident from the nose but the aftertaste was decidedly filled with citrus. Overall, just a nice, easy drinking table wine priced at just $15. Other reds like the soft Portuguese “Claudia’s 2009″ from Quevedo, the subtly floral “Lacrima di Morro D’Alba” from Velenosi (Italy) and the uniquely concentrated “Vacqueryras Cuvee Classique” from France’s Domaine le Couroulu each proved particularly noteworthy in our wine fueled journey.

Several white wines though also stole some of the show. At just $9, the “Quinta de Gomariz QG Loureiro Colheita Seleccionada” (try asking for that at your wine store), from the Vinho Verde was perhaps the best value of any wine that we enjoyed during the evening. Lightly carbonated without being overly sweet, each crisp sip was utterly refreshing. Speaking of refreshing, Otto’s Constant Dream, a New Zealand sourced “Sauvignon Blanc” is becoming one of our very favorite whites. Pleasantly ripe with green apple and citrus, the bouncy aromatic wine is a steal at just $13.  Though there were seven or eight whites that we returned to time and time again, these were our go-to pours as the evening wore on.

If you’ve noticed a pattern here it’s that despite being highly rated, the hand-selected list of wines are also entirely affordable. Granted you’ll find your outliers, but part of what makes these events run by the folks at NewYorkWineEvents.com so interactive is how easy it is to afford and purchase many of the wines being showcased. Sometimes you don’t have to break the bank for a truly fantastic bottle of vino- evidenced by the vast array being offered at this year’s Winter Wine Festival- another in a line of seamlessly executed grandiose events.

- Dave Gendelson

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
October 8, 2014

The calendar may read 2014, but it surely felt like 1999 inside of the Best Buy Theater on Wednesday night – the blistering opening set by rapper Machine Gun Kelly notwithstanding. For ninety minutes I was entirely transformed- my conservative button down shirt and stylish combover were effectively replaced by bleach blonde spiked hair covered up by a backwards red baseball cap and a pair of massively baggy jeans. As much as I was in disbelief that I used to dress like this, I was equally perplexed that now 15 years later, Limp Bizkit would host a completely sold out show in the heart of New York City. And the fans to their credit, acted as if time had stood still as they went absolutely bonkers for much of the band’s wild twelve song trek down memory lane.

Though the last memories of Limp Bizkit are likely to have been a result of a punchline, fans of the band and Fred Durst apologists would prefer to think back to the group’s earlier days when 1997′s “Three Dollar Bill, Y’all” was as raw and aggressive a new sound as our high school ears would allow. A cover of a George Michael song by a nu metal band was just the topper. But as the band’s status on MTV (remember that?) grew and with a celebrated performance at Woodstock ’99, the release of 1999′s “Significant Other” took Limp Bizkit to unparalleled heights. But their emergence in the spotlight seemed to feed into controversy led by a polarizing frontman that had noticeable difficulty in dealing with these new heights of stardom in front of our very eyes.  Coupled with subsequent album releases that seemed to be more congratulatory and self-aggrandizing than an extension of the defiant hostility that brought the band to the dance in the first place, Limp Bizkit managed to disappear seemingly as quickly as they had arrived. The last decade has not been kind to the band, left relegated as a flash-in-the-pan punchline rather than an innovative rock outfit that, for a time, had the world at its feet. And this is coming from a noted Limp Bizkit apologist.

But times change and often, what was old becomes new again. And while the songs haven’t necessarily changed, the band’s reclusiveness has allowed for this momentary renaissance. Wednesday night’s sold out show in New York City was a testament to such a sentiment. The band, albeit a bit older and a bit paunchier than perhaps we remembered, sounded great. They fueled the live crowd with every bit of the former vigor that they enjoyed in their younger years. Despite lineup changes here and there with members leaving and returning- the band performed brilliantly. Decked out in black paint and often addressing the crowd in demonic fashion, there was lead guitarist Wes Borland standing to the familiar left of the now bearded frontman Fred Durst. Drummer John Otto hasn’t missed a single beat, pulverizing his wooden sticks in front of a spectacular display of lights that would rival the band’s stage setup in their prime.  Even bassist Sam Rivers pounded on his four string bass in signature fashion, with the neck lit up with bright green bulbs for extra effect.

Though the group’s most established tune “Nookie” was interestingly left from the setlist, the band paced through all of the other hits that you’d hope to hear. Despite its critical panning, 2000′s “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water” did manage to sell more than twenty million albums with cuts like “Rollin,’” “Hot Dog” and “My Generation” making early appearances in the night’s set, with “My Way” and “Take a Look Around” (the Mission: Impossible II theme) following suit later on. Strangely, Durst and company opted to drop hip hop songs from the early 2000′s like Ja Rule’s “Party Up (Up in Here)” and 50 Cent’s “In ‘Da Club” rather than tackle many tracks from the early part of their catalog- but for whatever reason, the rabid crowd ate it all up during the performance.

Durst managed to even leave the stage and head to the balcony in the center of the venue. Though we anticipated a dive onto the waiting hands of concertgoers below, perhaps his age and reasonable thought took over and Durst continued to work the room from his standing position instead. “Eat You Alive” from 2003′s “Results May Vary” was a pleasant if not forgotten surprise and tracks like “Re Arranged” and the aforementioned George Michael cover “Faith” seem to have the staying power that no one would have predicted upon either song’s release. No matter how silly you feel asking to be given ‘something to break,’ there’s also no more fitting show closer than “Break Stuff,” where the crowd was given the full opportunity to have that sort of unadulterated release of energy at a rock show. The utterly rebellious rock track was further fueled by a precursor tease of Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name” and concluded with a cavalcade of bodies forming massive circular moshpits on the standing room floor and surfing over each other before reaching the barricade to exchange high-fives and glances with Durst and his mates. It might not have been 1999 anywhere outside of the Best Buy Theater on Wednesday night- but it sure was nice to have the venue and this band take us back in time.

- Dave Gendelson

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
September 5, 2014

Long Island’s own Twisted Sister triumphantly returned to New York City on Friday night turning back the clock to the early 1980′s for a rowdy and rousing ninety minute performance. The pioneers of glam metal proved to be at the top of their game despite the fact that they’ve been at it collectively for more than three decades. Introduced by the evening’s emcee, stand-up comedian and host of VH1 Classic’s “That Metal Show” Don Jamieson, AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top” fittingly played the five piece band out to center stage to the delight of the near frenzied audience.

Led by the frenetic energy of their frontman and catalyst, the band launched into opener “Stay Hungry” with singer Dee Snider racing toward the stage at the Best Buy Theater with particular vigor. Donning a sleeveless ‘Stop Taking Selfies’ t-shirt in trademark Snider fashion, the blonde curly haired vocalist could hardly contain his own energy, parading back and forth on stage as he gripped onto his signature hot pink mic stand.  To their credit, the rest of the band of aging rockers held up their end accordingly. Marc ‘The Animal’ Mendoza was his usual menacing self, aggressively pounding his bass guitar beneath his hulking frame. Eddie ‘Fingers’ Ojeda masterfully teamed with Jay Jay French to hold down the guitar work, impressively soloing at several points of the rocking performance. But it was hard to train your eyes away from Snider, whose distinct and gravelly voice holds up as classically you’d hope, likely a byproduct of the band’s heavily reduced touring schedule.

Though you can’t help but eagly anticipate some of the band’s iconic hit singles, tracks like “The Kids are Back,” “Shoot ‘Em Down” and “The Fire Still Burns” were each particularly rousing to the live audience who seemed to revel in anything that the band did on this night. Snider’s cover of The Rolling Stones’ “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll” was also a particular highlight as the band put their own signature twist on the classic rock track- much like they have with a variety of holiday tunes during their “Twisted Christmas” shows each winter.

That said, to no surprise, the 80′s rock anthems “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and particularly “I Wanna Rock” rallied the crowd like no songs that preceded or followed them. Defiantly energy-fueled, Snider and his bandmates legitimately brought the house down as the entire standing room only crowd sang along to the familiar tunes in unison. Though the band hasn’t released a new album since 2006, Twisted Sister obliterated the notion that they’re solely a nostalgia act by doing what they do best- entertaining an audience. And in that regard, the band still has plenty left in the tank- especially for those of us that still ‘wanna rock.’

- Jane Van Arsdale

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
May 10, 2014

Saturday night’s metal show at a jam packed Best Buy Theater brought four heavy bands and some two thousand New York area fans together for a glimpse at the genre’s past, present and future. Headlined by Black Label Society, led by legendary modern guitarist and New Jersey native Zakk Wylde and New Orleans-formed supergroup Down, the bill was a relentlessly pounding affair throughout, leaving little room for fans to breathe between an onslaught of banging heads, surfing bodies and pulverizing riffs- all of which served to remind us of our affection for heavy metal. As if a reminder was necessary.

The night kicked off just right courtesy of Los Angeles, California’s Butcher Babies. While the band is predominantly women, don’t let their good looks fool you- these girls can throw down some screaming vocals. Pretty yet deadly, the band came out swinging with “I Smell a Massacre” from their debut album 2013′s “Goliath.” Led by songstresses, the red-headed Heidi Shepherd and the raven-haired Carla Harvey, the pair jumped around on stage like crazy, screaming to every lyric. The crowd, to their credit- some of whom were familiar with the band’s set- were singing along to tracks like “The Mirror Never Lies” and “Goliath” before capping off a blistering opening set with their first single “Magnolia Blvd,” which served to further rev up an already excited audience.

Following suit were some fellow Los Angelinos from Devil You Know, a supergroup of sorts made up of former members of Fear Factory, All Shall Perish and led by former Killswitch Engage frontman Howard Jones. Kicking off with “A New Beginning,” the band’s seven song set, though abbreviated, had a good chunk of fans in the front row really feeling the music evidenced by a sea of head banging and rocker horns thrown overhead. Tracks like “Embracing the Torture” and “The Killer” were particularly on point, thrashing the appreciative crowd with particular vigor. Touring on the heels of their first release “The Beauty of Destruction” which dropped in April, the band quickly gained the support of the audience, closing out with the fast paced “Shut It Down” to end their brief but effective run on stage.

The crowd was noticeably jacked up by the time lead vocalist Phil Anselmo (formerly of Pantera) and the rest of Down was slated to take the stage. Upon the band’s visibility, the entire room began chanting ‘Phil, Phil, Phil,’ and the crowd exploded in an uproar as Anselmo himself arrived. The band launched into “Eyes of the South” and Anselmo began headbanging like crazy which further fueled the electric crowd. Tracks like “We Knew Him Well” and a rowdy version of “Witchtripper” somehow managed to encourage even more crowdsurfing amid cheers of raucous excitement amongst the standing room faithful.

Though Down had originally formed as a supergroup side-project of sorts releasing their first album back in 1995, the former members of Corrosion of Conformity, Pantera and Crowbar, have become a full-on entity, releasing two subsequent full length albums and two EP’s over the past two decades. Despite their frontman’s deep bellowing voice and tough guy persona, he manages never to take himself too seriously in the midst of a live setting. During “Lifer,” the first single from 1995′s “NOLA,” he addressed the crowd- “I know some lifers right up there in VIP. Fuck you guys!” and proceeded to give them the finger and his adoring fans all collectively followed suit, erupting in laughter. And although longtime drummer Jimmy Bower‘s drum peddle was damaged in the fray of “Losing All” – to which Anselmo mused “Really dude you had to break it now? Are we fucked guys? I guess we play acoustically. That would be awesome and different” – Down closed their nine song set with outstanding versions of the infectious “Stone the Crow” and “Bury Me in Smoke” seemingly leaving the crowd with just a little bit left for the evening’s headlining act. Or so we thought.

In anticipation of the arrival of Black Label Society, a massive black flag was raised in front of the stage only to fall to the floor, revealing the band’s iconic bearded guitarist Zakk Wylde wielding his signature spiral guitar. The room subsequently became a complete frenzy as the band opened with “My Dying Time” and with each passing lyric reverberating from the mouths of the audience- Wylde, who also fronts the band would don a bigger ear to ear grin. Songs like “Godspeed Hell Bound,” “Heart of Darkness” and “Damn the Flood” were particularly ruthless- all of which was a precursor to Wylde’s unparalleled guitar solo, showing off his breathtaking virtuoso skills to the crowd. The appearance of a grand piano was a nice surprise for the song “In This River,” leaving much of the room to marvel at Wylde’s musical chops. But the arrival of Anselmo back to the stage for the show’s fitting closer, a cover of Pantera’s “I’m Broken” was without question the most memorable portion of the performance. Led by two iconic musicians from two of the most renowned bands in the history of heavy metal, fans were utterly awestruck by the incredible sight in front of them. And the two men were seemingly enjoying it just as much as the two thousand fans in front of them- cheering at the very top of their lungs from start to finish.

- Stephanie Pearl, Stephanie Pearl Photography

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
April 24, 2014

You would be hard pressed to find a group of harder working musicians than the talented guys in Alter Bridge. Be it splitting time between solo or side projects, performing together or alternating between tours with Creed or with Slash, the band just seems to constantly be out on the road touring. Perhaps it’s that sense of selflessness, which allows each member to explore their own creative outlets, that made Thursday night’s sold out show at the Best Buy Theater so genuinely inspired. And perhaps that’s why despite their months apart, Alter Bridge is a band that can quickly put the pieces back together, write and record a killer new record every few years and not miss a single beat on stage as one of rock music’s finest and most cohesive touring entities.

Any fan that’s attended a live Alter Bridge show will surely attest to the many moving pieces throughout each performance- and Thursday’s 100 minute set was certainly no different. Fronted by the extraordinarily talented vocals of Myles Kennedy and lead guitar virtuoso Mark Tremonti, the pair’s versatile skillset is such that either one would more than capably hold their own- Kennedy as a guitarist and Tremonti as a frontman- in different bands. But with Alter Bridge, their talents work best collectively and their no frills stage show exemplifies the kind of musicianship that die hard rock fans can salivate over.

With the release of “Fortress” in the fall, the band’s fourth studio effort, you’d think much of the set would be dedicated to performing new material. But despite the riff-rocking opener “Addicted to Pain” and the hauntingly fast new single “Cry of Achilles” early on, much of the show would revolve around their earlier material. Songs like “Brand New Start” and “Ghost of Days Gone By” served to showcase Kennedy’s unparalleled range at an extent of high pitch where he has no true equal. Tremonti meanwhile, vastly underrated as an axeman, stood perched for much of the show, pounding his six strings with masterful precision on “Ties That Bind,” “Before Tomorrow Comes” and actually took over lead vocals on “Waters Rising,” which ranked among the show’s best moments.

Alter Bridge saved the bulk of their hits for the end of the set, which allowed the older skewing audience to focus on the music rather than sing along to the hits. But when said opportunities came, the fans enthusiastically embraced them. The chorus-filled “Broken Wings” had much of the room singing at the very top of their lungs, while the appropriately titled “Metalingus” saw a full sea of bobbing heads around the general admission space. Main set closer “Open Your Eyes” was the band’s first hit single and despite being potentially their catchiest and most well known, it was the show’s closer “Rise Today” that served to truly unify the four members of Alter Bridge with their more than two thousand animated New York City fans, who have proven time and again, their undying support for these musicians, regardless of who they are on tour with.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Alter Bridge, Live at The Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
April 24th, 2014
Setlist

1. Addicted to Pain
   
2. White Knuckles
   
3. Come to Life
   
4. Cry of Achilles
   
5. Brand New Start
6. Ghost of Days Gone By
   
7. Ties That Bind
   
8. Waters Rising
9. Isolation
10. Broken Wings
11. Farther Than the Sun
    
12. Before Tomorrow Comes
    
13. Metalingus
14. Blackbird
    
15. Open Your Eyes
16. Find the Real
    
17. Rise Today
    

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
March 3, 2014

To celebrate the release of his sixth studio album “Mastermind,” the Best Buy Theater in Times Square welcomed one of the game’s finest emcees to town as Rick Ross and a gaggle of his hip hop pals swooned a jam packed crowd during his hour long set on Monday night. Fans voiced their displeasure early on as show opener DJ Enuff attempted over the course of an hour to calm the crowd, rowdy with anticipation for the oversized rapper. And shortly after 10pm, their voices were finally heard.

“To me, this ain’t a concert,” boasted Ross as soon as he took center stage. “This an album release party to me.” Emerging in a bright red fur coat with leather trim, the crowd went wild as the show kicked off, holding up “Mastermind” posters high overhead to the detriment of the fans toward the back of the venue. Acknowledging his local supporters, Ross shouted out “Def Jam, Hot 97 & 106. Park are here” before launching into his opener “B.M.F.” At this point in his career, Ross has become a seasoned performer, often parading to both sides of the stage and playing to the crowd, making sure to take his time with every lyrical drop. The show’s first surprise came in the form of DJ Kahled who gave Ross a bearhug, handing him a bottle of Belaire Rose in celebration of the album release.

Throwing his coat to the floor, Ross then performed “John,” “FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt,” then “The Devil Is A Lie”- all three of which revealed just how much the rapper was enjoying himself, with a smile sitting between his ears throughout each song. With many of his hits out of the way, Ross then brought members of the Maybach crew to the forefront. The surprises continued as French Montana exploded onto the stage to perform “Nobody.” The crowd meanwhile was in complete shock, loving every minute of it as the pair then jammed on “Pop That.” After a few handshakes, the melody of “MoneyPowerRespect” started blaring and the crowd again erupted for the arrival of powerhouses Jadakiss and The LOX to the stage, bouncing around with drinks in hand.

It seemed that Rick Ross managed to save the biggest surprise for last, ending with the arrival of Busta Rhymes. “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” tore the roof off of the Best Buy Theater and culminated in a poignant speech to the crowd calling Ross “one of [my] favorite MCs of all time.” Rhymes continued to put Ross’ stature as an artist in perspective. “I never publicly say who’s my favorite and the reason I say this is because he rhymes and uses words that I wish I could’ve said. From one MC to another I wish you congratulations”- a humbling and fitting tribute that showcases the talents that make Rick Ross so distinctive and one of the finest rap artists of the modern era.

- Stephanie Pearl, Stephanie Pearl Photography

More than 250 different wines were wheeled out to Times Square on Saturday for two filled to the brim sessions of eclectic wine tastings. The day marked the return of the New York City Winter Wine Festival to the Best Buy Theater, welcoming hundreds of thirsty New Yorkers into Manhattan’s busiest area in three hour increments of nonstop sipping and swirling. Though backed by some live jazz music courtesy of the masterful Brian Simpson and table after table of some light eats, this was hardly your ordinary wine event.

Opting for the afternoon session, we entered the Theater shortly after 3pm- the place already fully abuzz with guests’ hands outstretched for their next pour of vino. This was perhaps the most well attended of the seasonal Wine Festivals that we’ve attended and the task to actually get your glass filled seemed more daunting than it actually was based on the amount of people gathered inside of the Theater’s main space. We began by sticking to the adjacent corridors where lines proved nonexistent and chatting with each representative was seemingly no issue. Grabbing our over-sized tasting glass, we picked up a plate filled with fresh fruits, flatbreads and cheeses and set out to be wowed by the endless array of different wines. With more than fifty tables of wines, there was no way to taste everything, but we did our best to travel country by country to distinguish our taste buds some.

Of all the wine events that we’ve attended over the past few years, I can’t recall a time where we have tasted wines from the Province of Georgia. That all changed on Saturday afternoon with the 2006 “Orovela Saperavi Cabernet Sauvignon” an affordable and expertly prepared red blend with a pleasant berry nose and a smooth finish. The medium bodied wine was both well balanced and drinkable with a splash of red cherry throughout. Just steps away, New Zealand’s 2012 “Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc” was equally as eye-opening. The refreshing, ripe fruit laden white wine was insanely tasty with a dry finish. We were fortunate to taste an exceptional wine from Malvira that featured the Arneis grape (2012 “Roero Arneis”- a veritable steal at under $20. The full bodied white wine seemed to have some green apple and citrus notes, but overall was clean and crisp throughout.

Although we’re all for tasting exquisite wines, we also enjoy the value of a good, affordable bottle. Barefoot Wines and The Naked Grape always seem to make an appearance at the annual festivals and this was no different. We enjoyed repeat pours of The Naked Grape’s “Summer White Blend,” which tastes tropical all on its own. With its floral aroma and price tag under $9, this one is a steal especially for warm weather days which we are yearning for. As the day progressed the use of the Winevento Phone App proved pivotal to our enjoyment of the afternoon session. The more popular wines as voted on by attendees in real time were shown on screens throughout the venue and served as recommendations for folks to taste prior to the conclusion of the Festival. Among some of our other favorites, we supremely enjoyed Tuscany’s 2011 “Talenti Rosso di Montalcino,” a big red wine, New Zealand’s “Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc,” a tight clean white and an outstanding sparkling- “Domaine Bruno Gobillard Champagne Brut Vielles Vignes,” which, although its name is not exactly catchy- its dry style and its perfected acidity are especially noteworthy here.

With three hours of tasting behind us, we took some time to chat up the other friendly purveyors on hand- namely the ladies doling out samples of Cabot cheeses and the folks from Amy’s Bread- as well as some of our tasting brethren who seemed more than happy to have some light conversations especially toward the end of the session. Fortunately we were able to take home our large wine glass and our tasting book which described each of the wines being poured at the Festival. Like fine wine, the New York City Winter Wine Festival seems to become more elaborate and more fun with age and with that said, you’ll be sure to catch us at the next one. We at least owe our readers that much.

The Hellpop Tour
A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater New York, NY
November 11, 2013

Theatrics has been so ingrained in the fabric of live music over the past forty or so years that some acts often border on performance art. From the devilish Alice Cooper to the now laughable Broadway-esque qualities of a Dennis DeYoung-led Styx, some acts utilize subtle nuances while others shoot for that blockbuster show that’s often more style than substance. Albany New York’s In This Moment opened Hell’s Gate on Sunday night with a pulverizing metal show at the Best Buy Theater that coupled a flashy stage show with a rocking 75 minute set that through and through made sure that every eye in the audience was firmly planted on front woman Maria Brink.

Upon entering the venue, the stage setup revealed that this would not be just another rock show. With smoke filled cannons positioned on both sides of the marble statuette in front of the stage- one made up of skulls and reaching arms and hands in a final attempt to save their lives- near two open gates representing either heaven or hell- or perhaps some semblance of both, the small but vocal crowd appeared ready for anything to happen during the show. And anything did- with two masked female dancers gyrating on either side of Brink, smearing blood on their necks and their nurses outfits while dangling massive syringes that pointed out toward the crowd, while thick fog covered the entirety of the stage.

Her bandmates were out to the stage first- donning masks and layers of doom filled makeup in terrifying fashion- stepping up to their separate podiums awaiting the singer’s arrival. With long blonde curls extending out from under her hat, Brink arrived to the stage in full Nutcracker regalia, wearing her microphone as an earpiece. It would be the first of multiple costume changes throughout the show as she’d change seemingly after each and every song. The band’s set meanwhile seemed to effectively couple a metal show with a sultry burlesque as Brink sensually danced to each song while belting out her trademark screams to the awe of the males in the crowd and to the delight of the female metal heads front and center following suit.

The five piece tore through their 12 song set, heading to the stage during the haunting calls of “Rise With Me,” before opening with the obliterating “Adrenalize,” with absolutely head pounding drum smashes and the kind of heavy guitar rock riffs that would immediately convert any nonbeliever into immediate fandom. In This Moment focused primarily on material from 2012′s “Blood” but they also turned back the clock to 2007′s debut “Beautiful Tragedy” for a medley of sorts featuring “Prayers,” “Next Life,” and “Daddy’s Fallen Angel,” each of which was louder and faster than the previous track. Noticeably absent for these ears was the title track “Beautiful Tragedy” which was a bit disappointing, but the group’s cover of legendary Nine Inch Nails single “Closer,” was inspired and fun, if not all that dissimilar to the original.

It was hard to find too many flaws in the group’s live performance aside from the fact that we wished it had been a bit longer. Brink’s vocals were riveting as she managed to hit each note of her horrific shrieks all while constantly moving around on stage, banging her head in indescribably sultry fashion. Tom Hane’s drum solo proved to be an ideal respite from the showmanship momentarily before the band returned with blistering renditions of “Whore,” where Brink donned a long black dunce cap atop her blonde locks which revealed the song’s title, and the show closer “Blood,” which forced the remaining crowd to sing along with particular fire. Often, there’s a time and a place for music and a separate one for show, but In This Moment seems to have found a middle ground that works. Scoff as you might at the intricate backdrop and stage show that sits in front of you and the elaborate costume changes and all of the mask wearing, but take all that away and you’ve got a cohesive hard rock band that can entertain you any way they like- either musically, sexually, or with some flashy decor. But the way that In This Moment has chosen to do it, somehow feels just right.

Common, Marsha Ambrosius, & Robert Glasper Experiment
A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
October 29, 2013

In the vein of an old school rock and roll revue, Tuesday night’s show at the Best Buy Theater replaced the rock and the roll with some funk and some soul. On the day of release for Robert Glasper Experiment‘s new album “Black Radio 2,” the accomplished pianist-led group would welcome artists Marsha Ambrosius and Common to their New York City show in celebration of their brand new record. And with The Roots’ drummer Questlove out first to open with a DJ set, the entire show would effectively mesh hop hop, soul, and some experimental jazz together for more than three full hours of live music.

Robert Glasper Experiment took center stage first and would remain there until the show’s conclusion, welcoming out the revolving door of guests to join them on stage for their man sets. Glasper himself is a conductor of sorts on stage, alternating the band around him through an array of different genres. His eclectic musical style and his penchant for punchlines were both equally on display during the band’s 30 minute opening set which sampled Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” sandwiched between cuts from his new album like “Baby Tonight,” the show’s opener, and “Let it Ride,” despite the absence of Norah Jones. The band welcomed the soulful Eric Roberson on stage for a rendition of “Big Girl Body” and even threw in a cover of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” for good measure. Surprisingly, the band left out material from their Grammy Award winning 2012 “Best R&B Album” “Black Radio,” but with their abbreviated set time for original material, the audience didn’t seem to mind.

Welcoming Marsha Ambrosius to the stage for a collaboration on the slow and sultry “Trust” was a fine segue way and the crowd on hand went wild as she joined the band at the mic stand. Ambrosius’ nearly hour long set spanned her more than a decade career, with tracks from her days in Floetry (“Say Yes”), her solo work (“Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)”, “Without You”) and stirring covers of Michael Jackson’s “Butterflies” and Sade’s “Love is Stronger Than Pride.” The British songstress showed her versatility with equal elements of humor, rhyming, and a moving set of pipes allowing Ambrosius to hit all of the necessary notes on each song she attempted. With the help of a short DJ set, Ambrosius also played a bit of karaoke with the crowd, giving them the opportunity to sing the choruses on some classic songs from hip hop’s past.

After a few hours of patience, the crowd finally became unglued as Lonnie Lynn (Common) jolted out to the stage. Donning a skull cap and a thin red sweater, Common exploded front and center with the stage presence and vigor that only the baritone rapper employs, his arms moving feverishly as if they’ll help him enunciate his pronounced lyrics. His seven song set was utterly fantastic, opening methodically with “The Dreamer” and “Ghetto Dreams” blended together, before turning back the clock some with “Geto Heaven Part 2,” “Theolonious,” and 1994′s “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” from back when his moniker was Common Sense. Before rejoining with Robert Glasper Experiment on their collaborative “I Stand Alone,” Common brought out a trio of tracks from 2007s “Finding Forever,” as each “U, Black Maybe,” “Break My Heart,” and “The People” played pivotal roles in pacing his energy-laced set. In recent years, a burgeoning acting career has led his path further away from the world of hip hop, but Common’s innate ability to captivate a live audience and perhaps even more of a rarity- for a rapper to actually SOUND fantastic in that setting, ensure that despite the roads which draw him further away from the studio, he always makes sure to find his way home.