A relatively new Syracuse rock band named Two Hour Delay is rocking the socks off the rest of the field.
The brainchild of guitarist-songwriter Tim Burns, the quartet sees its snow-belt origins as a testament to its hard-won heartiness, strength gained from fighting fierce storms. Hence the band’s name, Two Hour Delay, a familiar winter idiom in these parts.
Like the band’s refreshing Upstate pride, its music – showcased on its new self-titled disc –exudes a verve and vitality lacking from the work of most aspiring rock’n’roll composers.
A couple examples:
“Reading the Obits” is a killer number with a clever premise, insistent rhythms and gritty vocal. ”Tell-Your-Ride,” on the other hand, soars on the wings of hot harmonies.
This Friday, Two Hour Delay will play Kitty Hoynes in Armory Square and they’re asking fans to bring a smartphone or video camera to help record their newest music video.
“Sometime shortly after 10 p.m. when things are rolling, we’ll ask you to bust out your favorite/convenient video recording device and capture the band from whatever angle you’d like,” said guitarist Tim Burns in an email newsletter. “We’ll [play] a 2HD original (or two, yet to be determined). Afterwards, we’ll make arrangements to collect the footage in exchange for 2HD merch.”
Amazing Americana
Two Hour Delay’s musicians and singers skillfully employ a wide variety of effective musical approaches…musical craftsmanship may be the meat, but variety is the spice! Other fetching tracks include “Back to the Flatlands,” “Satchel Says” and “Seed.”
Deftly blending influences from blues, folk, country, bluegrass and good ol’ rock’n’roll, Two Hour Delay has produced a dynamic disc of amazing Americana.
Besides Burns, the band features electric guitarist Bob Gaus, bassist Tom Mattern and drummer Brian Welch. Live, the band performs a mix of strong original music as well as tasty covers.
“We’re focused on developing original music to capture the listener,” Burns said.
Two Hour Delay performs at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Kitty Hoyne’s Irish Pub, 301 W. Fayette St., downtown. Admission is free; 424-1974.
Ditto Oct. 7, at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 246 W. Willow St., Oct. 19, at PJ’s Pub & Grill, 116 Walton St., in Armory Square, and Oct. 29, at Shifty’s Tavern, 1401 Burnet Ave.
A charmed life
Syracuse native Jan Phillips has presented with Jane Goodall, dined with Ram Dass, sung with Pete Seeger and worked with Mother Teresa.
Yes, in the pursuit of social justice for all, Jan has lived a charmed life.
The co-founder of the Syracuse Cultural Workers — a progressive publisher committed to peace, sustainability, social justice, feminism and multiculturalism — returns to the Salt City to conduct a workshop on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2, at All Saints Church, 112 Lancaster Place; 472-9934. Phillips will speak at Masses and facilitate a four-hour workshop in the afternoon.
Art and activism
Phillips’ quest has led her into and out of a religious community, across the U.S. on a Honda motorcycle, and around the world on a one-woman peace pilgrimage.
Jan is also co-founder of the Livingkindness Foundation, a charitable organization which provides leadership assistance to women, educational opportunities for Nigerian children and leadership programs for youth everywhere.
Jan’s ninth book, “No Ordinary Time: The Rise of Spiritual Intelligence and Evolutionary Creativity” is the inspiration for her workshops. She’s a vocal proponent of the power of art and activism.
How do you spell confusion?
Why can’t U.S. media agree on how to spell Arab names?
As Libya deposes its longtime dictator, I have seen his last name spelled with a ‘G,’ a ‘Q’ and a ‘K.’ And that’s only the first letter of his surname.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, I have seen the name of the terrorist group which attacked us spelled any number of ways.
It’s confusing. Why doesn’t the Associated Press simply Anglicize these Arabic titles and stick with a single spelling?
Dead devotee here Sunday
Figuratively speaking, Jackie Greene is a child of the Grateful Dead. The Salinas, Calif. songwriter will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Westcott Theater.
In 2005 Greene issued a debut disc, “Sweet Somewhere Bound,” and his song “I Will Never Let Go” was used in the soundtrack for the movie “Brokeback Mountain.”
In 2006, “American Myth” appeared before Greene joined Phil Lesh and Friends, the Grateful Dead bassist’s ensemble dedicated to the interpretation of the Dead’s song book.
Meanwhile, Greene released “Giving Up the Ghost” in 2008, and made an appearance on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” that June, performing “Like a Ball & Chain.”
In autumn 2009, Greene played a series of shows with Gov’t Mule, culminating with a Halloween concert in which he sang an entire set of Rolling Stones songs with Gov’t Mule.
The Westcott Theater is located at 524 Westcott St.; Admission to the Green concert costs $15/all ages; 299-8886; thewestcotttheater.com.
Russ Tarby’s column appears weekly in The Eagle and online at theeaglecny.com. Reach him at [email protected].
