Aqueous Moving On Up

Aqueous passed a milestone on April 28th when they headlined the Westcott Theater in Syracuse for the first time. They opened for bands there plenty, but this was their first time headlining the room.

It was a triple bill. First up was Slow Train. They are a rock band that are best described as their name might suggest. They remind me of the rock music that provides the soundtrack to a cross country train ride. The New Daze played second. I like these guys a lot. They definitely do their homework and evolve. Songs like “Sunroof Cop” I’ve heard a dozen times in what seems to be a dozen different ways. They ended a fun set with a Ween cover.

Aqueous hit the stage with an excitement that resonated and an energy in the room that kept being exchanged between band and crowd. Their whole set was a big “Origami” sandwich. They opened the show with this gem and ended the show with a mind melting “Origami” jam. I am so impressed with these guys and happy the national scene is getting behind them. My opinion says Aqueous are versatile prog rock improvisers that can take you musically wherever they feel they want to be. Sometimes, they may build slowly but when they spill over they spill EVERYWHERE! I have come to realize that the diversity of Mike Gantzer and what he will come out with in the middle of a jam is off the charts. I appreciate his skills. It’s easy to bust out some heavy wah pedal just because it sounds cool. Mike is a ninja of the wah in the truest form, the way he can use it gentilly, yet effectively, without overusing it.

The big banger of the evening was when Tommy Weeks from Sophistafunk and Funky Dawgz Brass Band stepped on stage with his saxophone and joined for a cover of Hall and Oates’ “I Can’t go For That” that had this disgusting filthy jam. Simply stated – Tommy Weeks tore shit up and if you are a nugs.net subscriber, this song alone warrants you seeking out this show in particular. Festival season is upon us an Aqueous have a very busy summer ahead of them. Keep informed at their website or Facebook and keep an eye out at the Westcott Theater. These guys WILL be back headlining this room again sometime!