Beneficial Tomatoes

Max Newland, bassist for the Vanderbuilts, took the stage in front of a familiar audience: his classmates.
"It's always fun to play a show for people you know," said Newland, a junior environmental studies major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. "As long as they don't completely hate us."
The Vanderbuilts headlined the "ESF Rocks!" concert Saturday night at the Nifkin Lounge. ESF's student activity programming board hosted the event to showcase the university's array of talented student bands and invited Beneficial Tomatoes, a New York City-based rock group, as one of the four bands to play.
A low-key atmosphere led up to the event, with students milling around on the dance floor and munching on chips. Not long after 7:15 p.m., the house lights dimmed and the first band took the stage.
Woodworks, a bluesy folk group featuring three members from ESF, opened the evening with a lengthy set. In between songs, the band spent time interacting with the crowd, who met most songs with scattered shouts and whistles.
"The openers who played were cool," said Aya Yamamoto, a junior environmental biology major and violinist for the Vanderbuilts. "It's always awesome to play with people you go to school with."
The moody, funk-influenced folk played by Woodworks was matched by the stage lights, which danced in psychedelic hues of blue, green and magenta. The band ended their set with an emotional cover of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," met with the loudest cheer of the night from the audience.
Separated by a short sound check, members of The Live Effect, a four-piece rock band, strapped on their instruments and opened with a lively jam session.
"The reception was great," said Peter Xavier, drummer and junior mechanical engineering major at Syracuse University. "People asked for an encore before we were even done. Not enough bands on campus get heard, so they should definitely have shows like this as many times as possible."
The band enticed the crowd with a few original numbers written by guitarist Alex Bishop and closed out its set with a lengthy last track, earning a chorus of disappointed sighs after walking off the stage.
"The only thing that could have gone better was more cowbell," Xavier said. "I handed one to a friend of mine in the audience, but she left before she got the chance to play it."
The Vanderbuilts, a band that didn't need much of an introduction after making waves in the local Syracuse music scene last year when they won SU's Battle of the Bands, began their set with a few songs from their extended play record "Far From Here." The show began after the band combated technical difficulties that plagued the beginning of their performance.
The technical struggles didn't faze lead singer and guitarist Sam Kogon, who appreciated the opportunity to headline the show's ESF bands.
"We were thrilled when we were asked to headline tonight," said Kogon, a junior environmental policy major. "It's always a great feeling to be able to headline a concert."
The group has a new record coming out in mid-December, though the band members played dumb about what fans can expect.
"The album's title is under wraps for now, but we'll announce it soon," Kogon said. "Fans can expect something similar to the EP, but with some cool new things. We're really excited to get it out there."
The band wrapped up to a booming round of applause from the audience huddling around the stage, a welcome feeling for a band that has played around the Syracuse area.
"We mostly do shows wherever people ask us to play," said Dave Riddell, a multi-instrumentalist junior environmental science major. "So, of course, it's nice to play a show on campus, where more people know us."
After Beneficial Tomatoes closed out the night with a rousing set, the house lights flipped back on and students shuffled out of the lounge.
"It was a really cool idea for an event," Kogon said. "It gave ESF a chance to enjoy music from their own classmates, and it goes to show how many talented groups we have here."
ervanrhe@syr.edu - The Daily Orange

Jakob Dylan, The Bacon Brothers (yes, Kevin is one of them) Rusted Root, Carney, Evan Watson, 10 Feet Deep and Rhett Tyler lead the way on July 10, 2010 at th 6th Annual Pleasantville Music Festival

Nineteen acts on 3 stages including Pleasantvilles' own Agent Si and The Beneficial Tomatoes will rock the house from noon until after 8:00 PM.

For the full story visit our website www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com

Tickets on-sale now on-line. Discount prices for Pleasantville residents through June 18th. - American Towns

The second Saturday in July means only one thing to music lovers in our area: It's time for the Pleasantville Music Festival at Parkway Field!

But if you're expecting this sixth-annual event to be as wonderful as past years, think again--because this year, it's even better.

What began as a small concert series in 2005 has evolved into a major draw for Westchester and national acts.

"The level of the total package has come up each year," says Sol Skolnick, one of two Pleasantville residents organizing this not-for-profit event, "but it's really superior this year."

Home-Grown Acts

Three stages provide non-stop music, including the band Ten Feet Deep, whose members began playing together at Fox Lane High School. After graduating from respective colleges, Ten Feet Deep reunited. And, they have a recording being released in a few weeks on iTunes.

To hear more local talent, seek out Norberto Goldberg of Chappaqua; Frank Enea of Mount Kisco; The Beneficial Tomatoes, and Agent Si, both from Pleasantville.

Sarfaty recommends also checking out Rhett Tyler, from Hudson, New York, by way of Texas; and Evan Watson, who is from Tarrytown by way of Indiana.

And arrive early: "We have some of our best bands upfront to make it an even keel of talent throughout the day."

New this year

Instead of one or two headliners, which in years past has included Joan Osborne or Roger McGuinn, this year's event has four: Jakob Dylan, Rusted Root, The Bacon Brothers and Carney.

Along with the level of local talent being its most impressive, co-organizer Rich Sarfaty adds, "The amount of Hudson Valley performers has reached a new high, with sixteen out of the nineteen acts represented."

Musical mission

This fulfills one of the event's missions, which is to promote original music from the Hudson Valley. The other goal is affordability for music lovers: a $40 adult ticket provides access to all 19 concerts. (The event takes place on sports fields; bring a blanket or low beach chair to sit on).

Sponsored by 107.1 The Peak since 2006, the festival is also a destination for savoring locally produced food and beverages, and getting to know area supporters. Attendance is expected to exceed the 6,000 of last year.



Food, drinks, and fun

Gail Patrick's Café of Chappaqua is one of nearly fifty vendors at the event. Beer and wine is served in the Garden area from two Pleasantville establishments: vino from Prospero Winery, and beer from award-winning microbrewery Captain Lawrence Brewing Company. Other vendors will offer additional food, desserts, arts and crafts, and services.

An expanded "Fun Area" entertains children with music, games, and crafts.

In addition to The Peak, 21 sponsors and supporters include Mount Kisco's Holiday Inn, Land Rover of Mt. Kisco/Larchmont and The Examiner News.

Sarfaty, a guitarist and furniture maker, has been with the festival since the beginning. Skolnick, a mortgage broker and president of Pleasantville's Board of Education, is in his fourth year.

"We run the festival because we love promoting our community, and giving our local musicians a chance to be paired with national acts," says Sarfaty. "And because it's the biggest, most fun backyard party you'll ever attend."

What you need to know

Admission: $40 per adult; $10 for students and adults 62 and over; free for children under 11.
It starts at noon on July 10 and runs to 8:40 p.m.
Ticket purchasing info is available on line, and at listed businesses.
Bring a blanket or low beach chair to sit on.
No rain date; if the weather is iffy, check the web site for details.
Free parking at Pace University, with free round-trip bus service to and from the festival site from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Details and driving instructions are available on line.
For more information, go to pleasantvillemusicfestival.com. - Bedford-Katonah Patch