I know at one point, I said I was going to review the show at J. Watts Barista House on Feb 26^th. But after missing a lot of the bands and show talking to friends, bands and Jason Watt, the owner of the venue, I have decided to do a review on the newest venue in the 518 area.

                J. Watts Barista house is a cute little coffee house located on Mohawk Ave in Scotia. By day, this is a wonderful place to go get coffee, talk with friends, and eat some great baked goods. However, at night, the coffee house turns in to the place where you can do anything.  J. Watt’s has open mic nights,  Jam nights, nights where you can take swing dancing lesions, and now, full band shows.
                On the night of the 26^th, the coffee shop was packed full of kids eager to see what the coffee shop had in store. In the front room, there are tables, chairs and a couch to relax on. The barista’s are always willing to make you whatever drink you can think of, and are always extremely friendly. The whole environment is just full of good vibes. But, on a night there is a show, there is a whole different vibe, full of energy and excitement. You can hear the music, and you are really curious to know what’s going on.
                If you take a walk down the hallway, you see the room where all the magic happens. It’s dark, there are lights and music and the heat of amps and people standing close together. It’s a small room, there is not a whole lot of room to move around, and not a lot of room for a band. There is a small drum riser/stage in the back kind of like a drum nook. The sound in the room is loud, there isn’t a ton of room for the music to escape, and its great just like that. There is dancing and singing and it’s just a great place to go to a show.
                There is plenty of parking, with a small lot in back, a village parking lot a short walk away, and on street parking. If you ever want a place to play a show to a group of kids who are really interested in what music you have to play, J. Watt’s is the place to go. 
                I’ve never been more excited to see what shows come from a venue. The coffee shop reminds me so much of Samuels Coffee Shop from back in the day. Almost all the same people work there, and the vibe is almost identical. It really fills the hole in my heart where Samuels was.
                If you are interested in playing a show at J. Watt’s check out their facebook page here or walk right in and talk to Jason. I hope to see your band playing a show there soon.

Tonight at J.Watts in Scotia, Featuring 2 members of our old crew, Zack Bartnicki and Michael Doherty. Hope to see you there. 

Wild Adriatic, formerly Travis Gray and the Frontiers, Have just released a new EP. The review of this EP will be up within the next few days.  

That is correct. After about a year and a half, 518 Reviews is making it’s triumphant return to the scene. When I started 518 Reviews, I was only 15 years old. I had a lot of ambition, a lot of potential, and loads of energy. But all of a sudden, I just stopped. I felt no need to carry on, and at the peak of the site, I just fell off the face of the earth. Since then, I have continued going to shows, connecting with new people, and making myself known in the 518 music scene. I feel now is a time to come back, in full force, and show you all what the 518 is made of. I’m excited for you all to see what’s in store. Now, let’s get started.

Opinions?

Be There.

Zack and Tia will be there tonight! come say hi!

My pick is going to be the band Slingshot Dakota, an Indie band from Brooklyn. I met Slingshot Dakota at Valentines, a venue in Albany, recently. They have a great sound and are really entertaining. Their shows are very entertaining and full of energy. Tom and Carly, the two members of the band, play facing each other and have a really strong musical bond. Slingshot Dakota is for fans on DIY/Indie music and remind me a lot of Matt and Kim. You should listen to this band with your friends, with strangers and with your carpool buddies. (If you have some, of course.) To hear more Slingshot Dakota, visit there myspace.

Hey everyone, its Tia. I’ve got some news about Staff pick Tuesdays.
As you may have noticed, there hasn’t been a staff pick in a while. As you may know, everyone on the 518 Reviews staff is in school, weather it is college or high school. With homework, this has made it hard not only for me posting the articles and for the rest of the staff to write them.
Because of this, I am making a small change, and staff picks will now be on SUNDAYS. Make sure to check in for my pick this Sunday and every sunday.

Thanks for the support 518
-Tia [518 Reviews] 

Review by Tia [518 Reviews]

Who doesn’t love going to shows with a bunch of bands and a bunch of different musical styles? Six bands took the stage on August 21st for a fantastic show at the Unitarian church in Queensbury. Thieves and Villains, the band from New York’s Hudson Valley who signed to Victory Records last year, headlined, supported by New Hampshire based These Green Eyes and locals Triumph on Tragedy, Envelop the Light, Par 6 and Wipe Out Marshall.
Wipe Out Marshall went first, an electrocore band from Rotterdam. The band’s lead singer, Adam Lawyer, sang with whiney vocals while lead guitarist, Kevin McCauley, combated with screams. The band enjoys getting the crowd involved with their popular “Wall of Love”, in which everyone splits to either side of the room and when the band says “Go!”, they converge on each other and hug or shake hands.
Other Rotterdam natives, Par 6, played their usual set of upbeat originals and quirky covers. Singers, Steve Cohen and our own Zack Bartnicki, created harmonies on their original pop punk songs. Par 6 was high in energy, with Zack and bassist Paul Bonolo moving around, doing the robot as he played the band’s intricate bass lines. The band entertained the crowd in their usual way, making fun of each other in good-natured fashion. The band was well received by the crowd.
Envelop the Light took the stage next. This alternative band from Greenwhich, NY had catchy guitar riffs that kept the crowd engaged. Singer Andrew Horning had a calming voice, which powered up during choruses in the band’s songs. Envelop the Light’s music seemed almost hippie-ish, and the band was very calm.
Triumph on Tragedy, from Glens Falls, was next on the bill. This band brought me back to the days of screamo music. The band was somewhat low-energy, not moving around much, which was kind of boring. The rocky melodic vocals and high pitched screams reminded me so much of old screamo bands. Yet the band was not all scream like, Jimmy Kelly’s vocals reminded me much of older All Time Low music.
The first headliner of the night hailed from Connecticut. These Green Eyes meshed well with the other headliner. The balance of their different energies created a fantastic end to the show. These Green Eyes were similar to everyone on the bill, yet to no one, it seemed. Recently featured in AP Magazine’s “Top 100 Bands You Need to Know,” the band did not disappoint. The boys of These Green Eyes are obviously veterans to the show scene. Their performance was very high-energy and the band made it clear they were not noobs. There’s something notable about a band who can sound live exactly like they do on record.
Thieves and Villains were the big deal of the night, capping off the show with their crowd-oriented performance. Veterans to the 518 music scene, their set was heavy with old favorites that loyal fans were singing along to. Eventually, the band decided to play new songs, having been writing for a new record, the second to come out on the band’s label, Victory. They finished out playing more old favorites, and it seemed the perfect way to end the night. Another successful show presented by Empire Activities. A great lineup of high-energy bands and a great crowd made this show one to remember.

Listen to more on these bands, check them out on Myspace:
Thieves and Villains
These Green Eyes
Triumph on Tragedy
Envelop the Light
Wipe Out Marshall
Par 6

Check out the new Art Decade album, Royalty, now while your waiting for the review.