Syracuse Ska Forum

So what is going on in Rochester these days?
My band is looking for something to close out our tour between Toledo and Albany on July 29th and Rochester seems like it would work well. Is anyone here involved in booking shows out that way? Who are the kickin bands Rochester bands in 2005? I've contacted Mrs. Skanotto about doing a show but haven't heard anything back in a bit. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

If you're going to play in Rochester, I'd suggest Steel Music Hall (http://www.steelmusichall.com/). They host a lot of local stuff as well as some national stuff. I'd definately go if you guys came here.

The Burtones are definitly a kickin' band

Hmmm steel looks booked for the night. A quasi-metal show nonetheless... the band listed on the site that night, ABRAXIS A.D., is fronted by a friend of a friend of mine from high school. They sound like Staind. Ouch.
We would definitely enjoy playing with either of your bands. I checked out go2hell's live mp3s and they sound good, and I've heard good things about the Burtones. Any other suggestions? We did a Harmony House show a few years back and it was a good time.. do they still put stuff on there?

Some other suggestions could be....

Penny Arcade, The Harmony House, Montey's Krown.....


I'm drawing a blank but I'm sure there's more.

But it'll be suicide if an Albany band tries to set up a show in Rochester. They need a motivated local to help them set it up [hint, hint].

The most ridiculous shows I've ever seen at the Westcott were all set up by out of town bands. Typical turnout on those is about 10 people. I'M NOT KIDDING.

Even if Jay books Harmony House and gets it listed in the Rochester papers, without locals seriously plugging it, no one is really gonna show up. That's just super basic show promotion ...

The Glow played there several times; I'll have to ask them how the arrangement went.

Yeah, something I've learned quite well booking this and the last tour... venues will not listen to you if you're not from the area. It just doesn't happen. I have yet to have a call or email returned by a venue I've contacted trying to book an out of town show. If there are any bands in the area interested in putting a cool little ska show on that night at one of these venues (it's a Friday! People love going to shows on Fridays!) then we'll be getting somewhere...
May have neglected this point, but I set up about half of all the ska shows that happen in Albany, and I work closely with the people who set up the other half. Any band who helps us out in Rochester will without question have a place to play and stay in the Albany area.