Two weeks ago I got the chance to catch one of the most fun lineups I’ve seen yet! Carrie & the Cats headlined a show at Revolution Bar & Music Hall in Amityville on April 19th with the support of Will Wood & the Tapeworms, Ernie & the Band, Dino Skatepark and The Dirty Shovels. This show was non-stop action from start to finish. Louis of Blacklist Collective seems to continue to outdo himself. Each time I’m fortunate enough to catch a show that he sponsors, it’s better than the last!
The show began with The Dirty Shovels, a Long Island based Rock and Roll band that formed in late 2016. This four piece group is comprised of John Athy (vocals, guitar), Bobby Finnegan (vocals, bass), Tj Warcholak (guitar, vocals) and Tyler Warcholak (drums, vocals). The fact that each member of the band contributes to the vocals is awesome, especially because it’s so rare to see! Something that I took note of during The Dirty Shovels set was just how much fun the band was having. You never know what you’re going to get with an opener; they can either be ready to tear the roof off of the venue or they can be stoic and boring on stage. The Dirty Shovels was anything but boring! All band members were continuously moving and jumping around the stage AND interacting with the crowd (something that I always look for in an opener)!
The Dirty Shovels impressed me with the range of sounds they present in their music. There were some songs that had a classic rock vibe, and some that were reminiscent of bands like Sublime and Tunnel Vision. I am a sucker for bands that can mix it up like they can, especially when they add that hint of the reggae rock vibe to it! The band also had some awesome full band jam sessions that had the crowd moving! The Dirty Shovels performed exactly how an opener should! With their amazing energy, fast paced songs, and awesome interaction with the crowd, this band is one that knows what they’re doing! Make sure to check out their music on their Facebook page!
Dino Skatepark followed The Dirty Shovels. They are a six piece Progressive Rock band that has Pop-Punk and Ska-Punk roots. This is extremely evident during their set and I loved every second of it! Forming in 2014, Dino Skatepark has been on a mission to spread their music as far as they possibly can and it seems to be working! They had strong local support during the show with a crowd singing along to each song! I get this overwhelming joyous sensation when I hear the crowd singing with a small, local band; so I can only imagine how awesome that must feel to the members of the band.
Dino Skatepark began their set with Do You Think They Sell Benadryl at the Bar?, a song that is included on the band’s 2017 album, “Dino Skatepark: Take Two”. I loved this song because it had such a nostalgic vibe for me. The song consists of darker, typically metal guitar chords that can be heard on 90’s Pop-Punk/Ska-Punk albums, like Goldfinger and Sublime. While listening to Dino Skatepark perform this song, I couldn’t help but compare Dylan Delpanno’s style of singing to that of Bradley Nowell (original lead singer of Sublime). They both have the ability to add raspiness to their voice that gives the song an edgier sound! The band followed up with Love and Lust, a song that gave me a huge Streetlight Manifesto vibe. The fast paced guitar chords and drumming paired with the horn section sounded amazing! I could tell during this song that the band has a strong passion for Ska-Punk. The pure happiness and excitement that every band member was showing easily demonstrated this! One of the coolest aspects of Dino Skatepark’s set was when they covered Savior by Rise Against. It is not easy at all for a band or musician to cover a band that is so different from them. They did it with ease; it sounded great! Dino Skatepark ended their set with three songs that they will be releasing over the next year; Science Fiction, Boogeyman and East Quogue. Dino Skatepark exceeded expectations during these three songs. The songs encompassed everything that the band represents and had the crowd going wild! I can’t wait to until these singles are released and I get to catch this band live again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ra1LwWeeU
Dino Skatepark was followed by Ernie & the Band. Ernie & the Band is a Long Island based four piece band that is “making waves as a blues-rock group with original music written by John Witt (vocals/guitar) and Rob Sick (bass guitar), alongside re-arranged renditions of blues tracks of the past. A strong rhythm section, with Anthony D’Amoto (drums), keeps the groove strong and Ernie’s feet moving nonstop throughout every performance. Alex Diachok’s (piano/keyboard/guitar) burning solos have become a staple on the Band’s big sound.” This quote (taken from the band’s bio) couldn’t have described them any better. I had the fortunate luck of being able to speak with Anthony D’Amato, the drummer for the band, about their set and was able to learn a little about how the band came to be. Ernie & the Band formed back in July of 2017 and has been on a direct course to play as much as they possibly can. While playing their very first show, as an opener I may add, Ernie & the Band were able to bring in 80 people to catch their set. That is an awesome accomplishment right there! Openers are often lucky if they are able to have 20-30 people watch their set; the fact that the band had 80 is a testament to how good this band really is.
Ernie & the Band comes with a strong classic rock/jam band style that is sure to get every single person in the crowd moving. Anthony informed me that the band consider themselves to be a “live jam band.” Their goal is to get out there and spread as much joy and happiness through their music as they possibly can. They did not take the traditional route that most bands take. The band wanted to make themselves known in the music scene as a band that can kick ass on stage. Even before sitting down to record music, Ernie & the Band were out playing as many shows as they possibly could and gaining a stronger following with each passing day! The amazing blues riffs, fast paced drumming and sick solos prove that Ernie & the Band are on a path towards greatness! I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us when they play at Great South Bay Music Festival on July 15!
One of the most original, unique, and insane bands I have ever had the true pleasure of watching perform live came on next; Will Wood and the Tapeworms. I saw them once a few months back in Amityville and I thought that these guys have what it takes to become household names. This past show they blew me away! I don’t think I have ever witnessed a band with as much energy and stage presence as Will Wood and the Tapeworms. The band is a five piece Experimental Rock band that is based out of northern New Jersey. They come to each show prepared as if it is their last and have one more shot to prove just how kick ass they are. Every show is filled with crazy theatrics, insane banter (both with the crowd and between band members) and captivating instrumentals and vocals!
Will Wood and the Tapeworms know exactly how to get a crowd going. The band came on stage wearing a bizarre array of outfits; outrageous suits worn by the band and a flower dress, stockings, sparkly shoes and a top hat worn by Will Wood. To some reading this, you may be thinking “what the fuck kind of band did you go see?” While that is a valid thought, you have to witness a Will Wood and the Tapeworms show to truly understand just how amazing and memorable they are! From the second the band stepped foot on stage, the attention of every person in the venue was focused on them. From that moment, the band had gained another hundred or so fans. The entire set was captivating. Each member of the band bounced around stage, singing and yelling and interacting with the crowd as much as they possibly could. Some band members were on stage, some were in the crowd playing guitar and dancing along with everyone, but every single one of them was fully immersed in their own show.
I got the chance to meet Will Wood at the band’s merch table after the show, and he is one of the most genuinely nice people I’ve met. I spoke with him a few days after to ask about the setlist from the night and he had this to say; “I may have beat the setlist out of my own head that night, unfortunately. By the end of the show I was bleeding, swollen, dizzy and probably mildly concussed so my memory guts stopped recording shortly after reaching the merch table to speak to you.” Even though Will doesn’t remember the setlist, there are some songs that stood out to me, such as 6up 5oh Cop-Out (Pro/Con) and Mr. Capgras Encounters a Secondhand Vanity: Tulpamancer’s Prosopagnosia/Pareidolia. Make sure to check out those songs, and the rest of the Will Wood & the Tapeworms discography.
Will Wood’s Anniversary Performance is coming up. On May 25th & 26th, Will Wood will be performing in celebration of the third anniversary of his first album, “Everything is a Lot.” “It won’t be your average Will Wood show – it’ll be an intimate in-studio performance right where the album was recorded, and on the same piano I recorded the album with.” Tickets have already sold out for the 25th, so make sure you get tickets to the 26th ASAP!
The night was capped off with Carrie and the Cats. They are a Long Island Funk/Rock and Roll fusion band. “With influences like John Mayer Trio and Amy Winehouse, we bring you funky rhythms, sweet saxophone solos, and the amazing voice of Carrie Wicks.” Carrie and the Cats fit in perfectly with the blues/ska/jam band vibe that was present throughout the night. Their music is infectious and had everyone moving immediately. The band started off with Groove It from their 2017 album, “All Over Town“. This was a great lead song because it threw you right into the mix of the band. This is the song I would recommend if someone asked me what Carrie and the Cats are like. Carrie Wicks sings beautifully throughout the entire song, and the soulful playing of the saxophone, soft drumming and guitar riffs compliment her voice impeccably. “I got something to say now, I think you ought to know, I like the way you move it, when you’re grooving. So don’t be ashamed when you do your thang, just groove it.” I’m not sure if it was the lyrics of the song, or the hypnotizing sound of the band. but everyone in the crowd was moving after this first line of the song!
Carrie and the Cats continued their set with hit after hit. Each song that they played seemed to get another person to move up towards the stage and want to “groove it” with the band. Their music is addicting! With a setlist full of original jams and amazing covers, such as Respect, Carrie and the Cats are sure to continue to put on amazing shows. They are playing The Bitter End in NYC on Cinco de Mayo, and Great South Bay Music Festival on July 15th! Make sure you make it out to at least one, if not both, of these sure to be awesome shows!