Rochester rock musicians are putting their money where their mouth is.
Supporting Ukrainians with humanitarian aid, the fundraiser features music guests Mesh, The Clock Men, The Living Room, Bellwether Breaks and Honest John and the Problem. They will all collectively make a joyful noise as you bid for a bunch of groovy silent auction and raffle items. All proceeds go to RocMaidan, the charitable arm of the Ukrainian Cultural Center of Rochester.
Rock for Ukraine Benefit Concert Thursday June 2, at Photo City Music Hall, 543 Atlantic Avenue, at 7 p.m. $15 Suggested donation.
Coming to town
What I love about the blues is its rawness, its immediacy. I’ve loved Rochester blues man Genesee Johnny’s slide work as well and his straight electric guitar that he seems to be gravitating toward.
But is he getting too good? Too good for his own good?
Well, yes and no. It depends on which guitar he happens to be cradling at the time. It depends. His straight-up sunburst electric work is the howl of a banshee; his raw Dobro is a woman moaning low. When he mixes the two throughout his set, you get that ominous threat of the past masters lurking in the shadows, like House, Wolf and Johnson.
Genesse Johnny plays Friday, June 10, Lovin’ Cup, 300 Park Point Drive. 7:30 p.m. free
Rockin’ Rochester Festival
Once again, I’m alerting you early because, again tickets are gonna fly out the door for this one. These are bands that make this part of the USA cool. Better bring a sweater.
September typically marks the end of festival season. But each band on this bill could hold down the stage or blow Abilene’s doors off, but they’ve agreed to pool their efforts. You will not be the same. Ever.
Prepare to get your head handed to you by the likes of Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Daddy Long Legs, The Fox Sisters, and Duke Galaxy and the Pipeliners.
Rockin’ Rochester Festival happens September 9-10, all day, at Abilene, 153 Liberty Pole Way
Sirens and Stilettos and The Televisionaries
Despite the modest number of elite behinds in the seats and in attendance, Thursday’s show at Photo City Music Hall was up, it was down, it was alllll—rite.
T’was a two-part — T&A, R&A — endeavor with Sirens and Stilettoes there to take it off and The Televisionaries to put it back again. It was naughty and bawdy, full of peelin’ and squealin” and classic burlesque.
I’ve been following S&S for some time now, in particular it’s headmistress Miss Ruby Sparkles who shows you how to find it when she bumps n’ grinds it. But she’s not just a stripteaser, she’s an callipygian ecdysiast of epic portions as she moves those proportions around and around and around the dancefloor. Thursday night and she had the crowd howlin’.
I know it’s rather difficult to fill in S&S’ mules, but the Televisionaries brought the rock n’ heat off of their new album with them to bump and grind just about everything off “Mad about You,” except for some tasty Captain Beefheart. The band of four brothers, more like a fraternity or a brotherhood or a dynasty of sorts, is Austin Lake, bass and vocals, Brendan Lake guitar and vocals, Trevor Lake, guitar and vocals, and Aaron Mika, drums.
Each time I hear the quartet it never ceases to amaze me. Especially their studio work. The new platter was produced, recorded, and mixed by Matt and Rocio Verta-Ray (Heavy Trash, Speedball Baby) at NY Hed Studios. And they have tour dates coming up with Nick Lowe. Catch ‘em while you can.
Here’s a comprehensive list of live shows in and around Rochester: Get Your Gig On
Frank De Blase is Rochester Beacon music writer. The Beacon welcomes comments from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name.