Rock and Roll Resort and Turkuaz Present the Ball Drop– Kerhonkson, NY 12/31/14 (SHOW REVIEW)

Every festival goer is on a mission to find that one festival that is so much fun that one makes certain to return each and every year. For a growing number of music aficionados that festival is the trailblazing and unique ROCK N ROCK RESORT. On New Year’s Eve, those at Rock N Roll Resort, along with Hoplite, delivered another spectacular event filled with endless spontaneous adventures. An inclusive festival that packages rooms, food and music entry, into a reasonably priced bundles, one could ring in the New Year on a musical excursion that took place all under one comfortable roof at the newly-renovated Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonkson, New York – the same home as most recent Rock N Roll Resort events. The luxurious spa is conveniently located just over 200 miles from Boston and a 90 mile jaunt from New York City. A bevy of varied acts, all performed on one action-packed night, included Turkuaz, members of Consider the Source, Tauk, Spiritual Rez, Primate Fiasco, Danny Pease and the Regulators and Mister F.

One could easily dismiss the worry about imbibing and having to drive home from a NYE night of debauchery. Instead, one surrounded themselves with friends, “phamily”, and enjoyed the quintessential “dress to impress” gala affair that offered all the convenient amenities at a very affordable price. It was one huge slumber party in a winter wonderland! With so many New Year’s Eve party options, it would be challenging to uncover a New Year’s Eve party that was so well executed. Guests of the hotel also enjoyed the fitness room, arcade, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam rooms, indoor heated pool, on-site shopping and the 400 wooded acres adjacent which provided outstanding Catskill Mountain views.

There were inherently lots of expectations and production and the staff didn’t disappoint. The best “dressed to impress” won a ticket to the Cosmic Alignment Festival. It’s arguably easier to make friends at Resort that at other music event offerings. The intimacy of the environment is conducive to fostering new friendships as you bump into the same people repeatedly under one roof all night long. One can go back to someone’s room to make a drink, recharge or smooch the girl you just met in the lobby. It’s a non-stop whirlwind of stimulation.

Mister F :: Empire Lounge :: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Mister F is Mister B (Guitar/Bass), Mister A (Guitar), Mister M (Drums), and Mister S (Guitar/Bass/Keys). Well known in their home area of upstate, New York, they have been effectively branching out through relentless touring and are carving out a name of their own – they continue their current tour across New York and Connecticut through February. They bring the rage proper.

Set List: Oasis > Answer the Dog, Inside, It Gets Funkier II*, Everything You Say, Power, The Machine, On and On, Unisex Collider, This One Goes to 11, Vocoder^
*first time played, Vulfpeck ^without vocoder

Primate Fiasco :: Manhattan Theatre :: 5pm-7pm / Empire Lounge12:30am-1:30am

Primate Fiasco is Dave Russo (Banjo/Vocals/Harmonica), Jeff Fennell (Tenor Sax/Clarinet/Corinet), Kevin LaRose (Sousaphone – tuba), Chris Trevethan (Drums), and Drake Descant (Accordion/Piano/Keyboard). Resort veterans know the Massachusetts-based jazzy jam band from a prior jaunt where they take their instruments and march through the resort playing a dizzying array of bombastic beats. This year they also had a one hour set on the Empire stage which showcased the band’s energy and versatility.

Set List: Tom Thumb’s Blues, South Pole and The Pyramids, Saturn Returns, Not Expecting Guests, Sledgehammer (Gabriel), Sidekick, Barracuda (Heart) featuring Sammi Garett of Turkuaz on Vocals, Demon

Dan Pease and the Regulators :: Manhattan Theatre :: 8:00pm-9:00pm

Dan Pease and the Regulators are Kenn Kosiba (Vocals), Phaze (Vocals), Dan Pease (Guitar), Jeff Katz (Guitar), Jake Curran (Bass) and Joe Grenier (Drums). The ska/reggae/rock band that harkens from the 413 delivered an intense and satisfying performance on the Main Stage.

Set List: Intro., Don’t Forget the Ska, Blood, Sweat & Beers, Fire It Up, This Is Real, She Says Rise, Gimme Some, Get Away, High Proof, Takers, Phenomenon, Watchout!

Spiritual Rez :: Empire Lounge :: 9:00pm-11pm

Spiritual Rez are Toft Willingham (Vocals/Guitar), Jesse Shaternick (Bass), Ian “Meat” Miller (Drums), Quinn Carson (Trombone), Julian Dessler (Trumpet), Mohamed Araki ( Keyboards/Keytar) and Rob O’Block (Lead Guitar). Boston’s premiere reggae dance band brought the thick relentless rhythms buoyed by tight vocals and endless energy.

Set List: Bring it On, Baby’s Mama, Man’s Hands, Alone Again, Who’s Gonna Come?, Let’s Go Out with a Bang, Sippy, Steve Got Arrested, Don’t Be Afraid

EVENING HIGHLIGHTS:

Consider the Source :: Manhattan Theatre :: 1:30am-3:00am

Consider the Source are a unique power trio consisting of Gabriel Marin (guitar), John Ferrera (bass) and Jeff Mann (drums.)  They bring a unique instrumental world sound that is dubbed “Sci-fi Middle Eastern Fusion” and they have been quickly-ascending in popularity as they tear apart festivals and local venues far and wide.  Unfortunately, they would not play as planned due to an abrupt illness to monster bass-thumper, Ferrera.  Fans were unable to see one of the scene’s most enlightening bass players but the remaining participants made the best of the situation.

The world or Rock N Roll can be unpredictable and the band of musicians did their best to proceed with the mantra, “the show must go on” without Ferrera.  First, Marin and Mann opened with “You Go Squish now” and “Abdiel” as a duo before Taylor Shell from Turkuaz joined the stage for a jam, only to be joined by guitarist Craig Brodhead from Turkuaz for further improvisation jamming.  Mohammed from Spiritual Rez joined the fray to do a Jam based on the music of Mali.   Mann and Marin closed as a duo on “New World Cocek.”  The crowd ate it up in spades and it demonstrated an exemplary level of professionalism to pull it all together at the last minute considering the unforeseen situation.

Tauk :: Empire Lounge :: 3:00am-4:30am

Tauk are Matt Jalbert (Guitar), Charlie Dolan (Bass), Alric “A.C.” Carter (Keyboards/Organ), and Isaac Teel (Drums). They are an extraordinary band of professional improvisation artists that deliver intensely-satiating sets of rock fusion instrumental music. They have exploded in popularity over the past year due to an insane touring schedule. They continue to improve in leaps and bounds and are an outfit to watch as they evolve. Highlights included sit-ins by Gabriel Marin of CTS and members of Turkuaz for an insane, “Friction Collateral” complete with monster guitar fills. Their take on The Beatle’s “She’s so Heavy” best demonstrated the versatility and prowess of the band as they delve into a deliberate take before melding together seamlessly towards crescendo.

Set List: Carpentino’s Rebirth, The Drop, Battle Without Honor or Humanity (Cover: Tomoyasu Hotei), Mokuba, In The Basement of The Alamo, On Guard, Sweet Revenge (w/ Gabriel Marin on Guitar from Consider the Source), Friction Collateral (w/ Craig Brodhead, Chris Brouwers & Greg Sanderson from Turkuaz), She So Heavy (Cover: The Beatles), Mindshift, When In Doubt, Tumbler, Dead Signal Encore: Immigrant Boogie Parade (Cover: Led Zeppelin, Kool and The Gang, Rage Against the Machine)

Turkuaz :: Manhattan Theatre :: 10:30pm-12:30am

Turkuaz are Dave Brandwein (guitar/vocals), Taylor Shell (bass), Craig Brodhead (guitar/synths), Michelangelo Carubba (drums), Greg Sanderson (saxophone), Joshua Schwartz (saxophone/vocals), Chris Brouwers (trumpet/keyboard), Sammi Garett (vocals/tambourine) and Shira Elias (vocals).

Berklee School of Music graduates, Brandwein and Shell lead a large-piece funk powerhouse.  One would be hard pressed to procure a band better suited to bring in the New Year.  With an intense brass section, sexy dancing girls singing background vocals in unison, and exquisite vocals blends, the band continues to ignite a frenzy on the dance floor.  The Brooklyn-based band is like a pack of starburst – you dig deep into the middle and the bursting flavor permeates through the entire perimeter.  Elias is a fine addition and does a stellar job replacing talented mainstay Geneva Williams.   During the fast-moving “Monkey Fingers” the band counted down to New Year’s Day as a horde of colorful balloons cascaded from the sky above.  Other highlights included the contagious bouncy bass line during the fan favorite, “Bubba Slide” as well as a superior version of the stellar, “Chatte Lunatique” to conclude the fiery performace.  As one point, Tommy “Too Much” Liberto, joined the stage.  Tommy is a superfan who literally wears a Christmas Tree on his body in a festive display of artistic expression.  Josh Schwartz again proved a spark of incendiary firepower through his vocal musing and stage prancing.  In a performance that was the highlight of the festival for many, Schwartz led the troops through a take of The Beatle’s “With a Little Help From My Friends” in the style of Joe Cocker.  Powerful and evocative, it was especially poignant considering Cocker’s recent passing.  It was buoyed by a sit-in by Tauk’s Alric “A.C.” Carter on keys and the brass section from Spritual Rez.  Turkuaz fans are already aware of Schwartz’s prowess performing Cocker as the band covered the Mad Dogs and Englishman record in its entirety in the fall of 2013 at Brooklyn Bowl and “Feeling Alright” has been a set list staple for some time.  Turkuaz again prove that they can deliver an  exemplary performance at the Rock N Roll Resort stage!

Set List: Electric>Club Foot>Coast, Future, Let it Ride, Toolbelt>Desert Island>Percy Thrills, Tiptoe, Rules, Lookin’ Tough>Que Sera>Monkey>Auld Lang Syne>MonkeyFingers, Bubba Slide, Ballad of Castor Troy, 20 Dollar Bill, Back to Normal, Chatte Lunatique

Photos by Patrick Hughes Photography at Faces of Festivals