By John Tierney
Root Shock are the real deal. In a town that brags about its music cred, Root Shock may be the only band that sells out or damn near sells out every room they play in, bringing new fans along everywhere they go. “I have noticed it from the stage.” Root Shock lead vocalist Jessica Brown told me during our recent conversation in preparation for the band’s first shows this Friday and Saturday in their hometown of Syracuse since New Year’s Eve of 2019. “We’d be 2nd or 3rd on a bill and you can see people who maybe hadn’t heard of us start to wander over to hear what we were up to.”
For a band that makes instant fans just about everywhere they play, there is no more special place to see them than on their home court, the place where they had a monthly residency prior to stepping up their regional touring profile, Funk n Waffles. It’s there that the band tends to lift off into another realm, so to speak, fed by the enthusiastic and often boisterous crowd that gathers to see them. Singing along with songs like “Sunlight” is not uncommon.
I’ll admit it, I was worried about Root Shock. If you know me, Root Shock are one of my favorite bands, not favorite “local” bands, although I don’t know why one would make such a distinction in the first place with the plethora of talent this city has to offer. Root Shock are one of my favorite bands full stop, and I was worried about them.
Really, it was easy to be worried, the band was insanely busy with a calendar full of dates in an expanded regional/national footprint, new booking agents, plans to record, the band was moving in an upward trajectory with great speed. Things were falling into place. Jessica and Root Shock drummer Tyre Outerbridge had quit their day jobs.
And then it all stopped.
A global pandemic threw a big roadblock in the way and everything just stopped cold, and you heard nothing from camp Root Shock other than an inbox full of cancelled gigs and refunded tickets, everything went quiet along with the rest of the performing world.
You wouldn’t blame a fan for being worried, a lot was going to change on the other end of this thing. People change, priorities change. Just like not being able to take a single day for granted in this world, you can’t and shouldn’t take it for granted that the show you just saw wouldn’t be the last for any band for any number of very good reasons. So yeah, I was worried.
Brown wasn’t worried. “I knew after Covid was over that we would be able to pick it back up again. I knew my bandmates were on the same page too. I wasn’t worried. We all just decided to retreat for a while and go back at it when it was over. Nobody thought at the time it would be THIS long, but no, I was never worried about the band.” Even prior to the whole world shutting down, founding bassist Bill Eppel had informed the band he needed to remove himself from Root Shock and the touring life. “The band’s name, ‘Root Shock’ literally means change, displacement so while Bill leaving is huge, our new bassist Elliot Jarvis brings a different texture to the music.”
Brown speaks the truth, recent gigs in Rochester and Bouckville show the bass playing duties to be in good hands and in perfect synergy with Phil Grajko on guitar, Brain Lauri on keys and Tyre Outerbridge on drums.
The band plan on “taking it slow” over the winter, mindful that we are still in the grips of an unpredictable public health situation, but you never know when a chance to see the band may pop up again in the near term. “We are thinking about recording some songs that are staples of our live set that haven’t found their way to a recording yet..like “Ryu” for example.” said Brown
Root Shock’s annual two-night stand on Halloween are always a special couple of evenings at the beloved waffle shop, Friday’s show will be Eppel’s last with the group after co-founding it in 2009, there is no doubt this will be an emotional swan song. “Halloween is always special; we have a few surprises lined up, but I can’t talk about them, you have to come out and see.” Brown said. In the past Root Shock has played on Halloween in theme costumes and pulled out some against type cover songs that show off the amazing musicianship of the band.
Look, If you’ve been anywhere near me in the last few years I’ve been telling you to go see Root Shock, not only are they top notch performers, but they send out into the universe a positive vibe that will lift your spirits and soothe your soul. So go on, get out this weekend and when you buy your tickets, get the special 2-night presale and save a few bucks.
It’s going to be a blast and when you hear the ovation this band gets, you’ll wonder how the roof stayed on the building. Also, don’t forget to bring your mask, it will be required when not drinking. “Let’s keep everyone safe so we can keep doing this” Brown said, “and what better time for a mask than the Halloween season, you can make it part of your costume. “
Root Shock play this Friday and Saturday at Funk N Waffles, doors at 7/show at 8. Opening on Friday night is Aaron Rizzo and on Saturday night the opener is Trauma Cat.
Tickets are available:
https://www.ticketweb.com/venue/funk-n-waffles-syracuse-ny/437585?pl=fnwsyracuse
Be the first to comment