Sumac
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Sumac

Troy, New York, United States

Troy, New York, United States
Band Rock Alternative

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Gig Review: of Rob Jonas, Jo Henley and Sumac at Valentines"

June 17, 2009 at 12:00 am by Mike Guzzo
Valentines down stairs rocked on 6/13/2009.
Rob Jonas new album “Take Me Anywhere” has been highly anticipated by many, so it’s no surprise that good crowd showed up for the release of his new CD even though The DMB was playing at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center the same night.
About 100 or so fans gathered Saturday night for Rob Jonas’s CD release party in the small but quaint down stairs of Valentines and you would have had a hard time finding one frown in this crowd.
That’s because three of the regions primer acts were there to keep the night moving and the fans spirits high.
The night started off just after 9 P.M. with the Troy based Rock / Alt Country band Sumac. The group offered up eight songs and the crowd reacted as if they were classic hits, cheering the intros, grooving to the beats and drinking along with vocalist Jeff Burger and clamoring for an encore when their set was over.
Jo Henley the Boston based roots pop band, who by the way is a band not an individual took to the stage next. With fresh and catchy songs JH keep the crowd moving and grooving. The warm and engaging tenor stylings of singer Andy Campolieto showed why Jo Henley is worth the money to check these guys out.
Finally it came time for reason why every one had come to Valentines Rob Jonas to take stage and he did not disappoint. Usually a solo artist Rob was joined with a backing band as an added treat for the release of his new album titled “Take me anywhere”. The crowd was delighted with songs of life, love lost and nights of heavy drinking, bringing the crowed to a fever pitch when Rob rocked the songs “Livin’ the dream” & “The Old Town”. For all those in attendance the night was filled with good songs from good bands.
- Times Union


"CRUMBS Nite Out at the Linda with Sumac"

August 3, 2009 at 9:17 am by Andy Gregory

The Thursday evening sky looked like rain, but didn’t follow through on the threat, for the lightly attended July edition of CRUMBS Nite Out at the Linda. Perhaps people had taken advantage of the dry time to reacquaint their John Deere with the jungle that was formerly known as a lawn. If so, they missed out on a solid set by rootsy alt-country rock ‘n’ roll band Sumac, and a panel discussion that was chock full of tips and strategies on “getting the gig”.
The evening begins, as always, with an hour long pre-show mixer. Local funk/soul/rock band The Getdown, whom recently played a well received set at Art on Lark, took advantage of an empty vendor table and staffed it with promo items. According to band members Paul Denvir and Chris Marino, the band has been hosting an original music showcase at Jillian’s, called HipSonic BOOM. Hipsonic BOOM is a monthly original music showcase featuring 2 to 3 of the area’s bands/artists sharing the stage for a night. Get hold of the Getdown at http://www.myspace.com/thegetdownspace to see how your band can be part of this monthly showcase.
After introductions by CRUMBS’ Mike Guzzo and interviewer/host Howard Glassman, Sumac opened with a slightly out of tune blast of Telecaster and acoustic jangle to opening chords of “Clouds Like Ribbons”, and built a good head of steam with “Long Winter”. This apparently took some by surprise - overheard from the lobby, after that ripping Telecaster intro: “I thought it was going to be a country band”. Even Howard, when returning on stage to interview the band, seemed to gleefully state that it was “a return of the electric guitar to the Linda”.
During each two song mini set, sandwiched between Howard’s interview parts, Sumac rocked the house, the songs revealing a fine blend of some of the band’s collective influences: Hank Williams, Jr.; the Ramones; Tom Petty; Buck Owens; the Band; the Beatles; and Wilco. The 8 song set included 2 recently recorded songs “Left for the River” and “West Coast Blues”.
Sumac is led by former Jackinanny Jeff Burger on vocals and acoustic guitar. With some recent personnel changes, the current lineup includes Daryl LaCasse - guitar, Justin Birk - bass and vocals, Rob Jonas - keyboards, and Ron Burris - drums and vocals. The band is currently recording tracks with Seamus McNulty at Collar City Sound. With a cd release tentatively scheduled for early 2010, you’ll need to catch Sumac live to scratch at a rock ‘n’ roll itch.
Jeff noted at one point during the interview that the songs were all from the heart in some way. I think some of the heart of rock ‘n’ roll lives within Sumac.
- Times Union / Crumbs.net


Discography

"Sumac" (2010 EP) Featuring The single
"West Coast Blues"

That was one of WEXT 97.7
50 Top Local songs 2009

Photos

Bio

Jeff Burger - Vocals & Guitar
Daryl LaCasse - Guitars
Justin Birk - Bass & back ups
Rob Jonas - Key Boards
Ron Burris - Drums

Booking and Inquiriers
518-271-1941
thegsj@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/sumaccollective
www.twitter/sumactheband

"I think some of the heart of rock ‘n’ roll lives within Sumac." - Andrew Gregory, Times Union

Wext Top 50 Local518 of 2009

Sumac began in the summer of 2007 as a vehicle for song writer Jeff Burger. After working the local radio show "Sunday morning coming down" for WRPI 91.5FM Jeff rolled up his sleeves and began working on songs that he would play for some shows under the moniker Mr. Chesterfield and Jackinany along with Key broadest Rob Jonas, playing with such bands as Hayseed, The Coal Palace Kings, Lucky 57, Ware River Club, The Pernice Brothers, Fred Eaglesmth, Luther Wright and the wrongs, The Delafields, Tiger Mountain and Warren Zanes. This went on for a few years. I guess it ran its course. That was until Jeff crossed paths with Justin Birk a brassy sax player for the band Slick Fitty who dabbled in playing bass guitar. The trio of Jeff, Rob and Justin began writing songs and seeking a drummer so they could now play their new material. The trio also felt that they needed a new name. Feeling that monikers were not what they were looking for, they imagined that they were in a band and should think about band names instead. One night Jeff and Justin were drinking, writing and discussing how they could make this new project grow. Feeling that the songs were new, yielding tasty riffs that were scrappy in nature and in that moment it dawned on Jeff. He remembered back when he was living in Seattle there were these trees that seemed to sprout up all around that grew fast but also were sublime much like their new songs they were called Sumac trees. So that was it from that day forward Jeff, Rob and Justin were in a band called Sumac, they just had to find band mates. Playing with several incarnations over the years with help from all sorts of talent Jeff, Rob and Justin found them selves still looking for more to add to their folksy sound. So in the summer of 2008 Sumac added guitarist Daryl Lacasse who the group met while he was doing his internship for teaching in the same school were both Jeff and Justin also worked as teachers. Sumac was now playing standing room only shows with bands like "Frog Holler" from Philly and the "Grainbelt" from New York, but something was still just not right. In April of 2009 Daryl contacted his friend Ron Burris who he knew had played drums in the past for heavy rock bands but felt that his playing might be what the group was looking for. After a few jam sessions they agreed to finalize the band by adding Ron on the drums. In June 2009 Sumac began recording their first EP to be released in early 2010. I was there where the hell you were!

Links
http://www.myspace.com/sumaccollective