Jam cancelled

Just a heads up. The Mohawk Vally Blues Jam scheduled for this evening at the Devereux has been canceled until further notice.

Montbleau, Haggis on horizon at EC

Just got a few tips about some fun stuff coming up at The Electric Company, 700 Varick St., Utica:

Feb. 6: Ryan Montbleau Band returns. If you have yet to check out this Electric Company favorite, you truly are missing some of the best music to hit our city. The band has a way of blending soul-infused folk, Americana, rhythm and blues, creating something you're pretty sure you've never heard, yet you'll still slip into a nostalgic stupor.

March 5: Enter the Haggis. If you missed these Celtic rockers when they performed at Saranac Thursday and the Great American Irish Festival this summer, you missed a band exploding with energy. The band blends elements of rock and pop with traditional Celtic fare, an art school eclecticism and a keen sense of arrangement. Sometimes they even dabble in roots and funk. They're all that and a bag o' pipes (er, bagpipes).

Visit The Electric Company's Web site or call 792-9271 for information.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it means when commenting

For the most part, people's comments on most of the blog entries are perfectly acceptable, but like everything we get a few that ruin it for the rest. These comments tend to be from people who use poor grammar and who post as "Anonymous." It's probably much easier to make mean-spirited, off-color and false remarks behind the face of anonymity.

That's not to say I'm not open to a good debate, but there certainly is a way to disagree with something without personally bashing someone or making disparaging remarks about them. Most of us were happy to leave junior high school behind, so let's not use this forum as a means to return.

I'm sorry to have to take up the time of those of you who graduated junior high school and post maturely and responsibly, but here's a reminder about appropriate commenting:

Pool Rules

1. Keep it clean.
2. Stay on topic.
3. Be honest and accurate.
4. No personal attacks. Don't bash anyone based on their race, creed, heritage, or orientation.
5. Don't say anything here you wouldn't say in front of your mother at the dinner table.
6. Use the 'Report Abuse' button when you spot a rule violation. (Don't report comments just because you disagree.)

B-Cide shows off a new side - on video

Local rapper B-Cide sent us this video - the first of his newest marketing initiative Btv. The beginning of the video features the photo shoot Fusion did with B-Cide for an article about the business of making music. Here's a glimpse of that February photo shoot.

A little something from back in the day

Some boys from the good ol' days will come together at 10 p.m. tonight at the Valleybrook, 8463 Seneca Turnpike, New Hartford.

The veteran local rockers will include WOUR's Genesee Joe, Steve Bennett, Greg Dean and Bobby Moore.
These longtime musicians will play everything from blues to classic rock.

"We are anticipating some magic musical moments out of this line-up of longtime professional musicians," Genesee Joe said.

A big sound in a 'tiny' place

UTICA - The big and the tiny will come together Saturday for food and music.

Tiny's Bar and Grill, 1014 State St., will host big band Easy Money at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Everything's big in this band - from talent to sound, said band leader Steve Falvo. The band is made up of 16 musicians performing big band-era music by artists such as Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Glenn Miller.

"This is definitely a bigger sound than people are used to," Falvo said in a previous interview of the four-section band and vocalist Sonny Dee.

Cover is $8. Call 732-9497 for information.

Snuggle up with Weezer

Ever thought that Weezer and Snuggies should hook up and make a Wuggie?

No, me either.But just because we didn't think of it doesn't mean it's not a fantastic idea.

That quirky 90s-alt-pop band Weezer has teamed up with that cozy sleeved blanket thing, made famous by infomercials. What you have is a Wuggie - or an incredibly clever marketing tool to get people to buy Weezer's new CD, "Ratitude," which comes free with the Wuggie ($30-$50).

Check out the band's infomercial. If it doesn't make you buy one, it will definitely make you laugh (or at least smile).

Battlin' the ivories

A couple years ago, I interviewed a young pianist named Michael Battle. At the time, he was recording and preparing to release a CD and had high hopes of finding a place in the acting and modeling world with his skilled piano-playing.

You might remember Battle as the handsome, young man behind the piano at Grimaldi's each Friday night. His seat behind that piano has been vacant as of late as the Utica native has moved out of the area in order to pursue his dreams.

He recently released that CD, so, if you've missed Battle behind the ivories at Grimaldi's, pick up "Chopin After Midnight" online at Barnes and Noble.

Click here to read past articles about Battle.