At the Bug Jar, a staple of the Rochester music scene for decades now, very few are unfamiliar with the massive flying bugs in the bar or the kitchen and on the ceiling, and there is a reason for that: they are constantly are bringing in new talent and have a constant flow of bigger acts that fill the stage as well.
There was a moment to talk with Bobby, one of the owners and he conveyed his appreciation for NYS Music and confirmed a special line up in March that is sure to knock your socks off. One thing Bobby mentioned is that he wants the Bug Jar, to continue to, and how important it is, to keep the Rochester music scene alive, and he is determined to do just that, Friday night was no disappointment.
The small venue on Monroe Ave and the heart of downtown, hosted three local bands on Friday, January 23; Phone Call, best known for their EP release in 2022 Close Call, took the opening slot as it was a special night. A brother and sister combo on the traditional bass and drums welcomed their father and celebrated his birthday at the show, and there was a sizable “Happy Birthday” that resounded from the crowd.
Along with a litany on their own creations, they played an astonishing cover of “My Own Worst Enemy” by the band LIT that got the nostalgia factor into play for some of the crowd; you would hear things murmured, “I haven’t heard this in forever!” from multiple directions. With one song to go they chose a song called “Couch” with a laid back, folk tone, built to a full out dance mode with the crowd that seemed to sway together as one.
Calabash hit the notes next, and only forming officially in 2025, they knew the crowd they were playing to and even got to shoot some video with a video production company. The band is made up of four members, Andy Hogan on bass guitar and vocals, AJ Magee on keys and vocals, Marcus Peters on drums and Will Schantz on guitar and vocals.
They come together to provide a cool, jam band vibe, but there is far more than meets the eye with this one, fitting some funk undertones and a rock feel with some serious guitar riffs, to a solid jazz influence with some improvisation and they were even scatting in one of their songs. Though a short set, the show was a solid 30 minutes, playing “Foot”, “Slippin’ Again”, “Playing the Fool” and “To No Avail” which had a bluegrass sound to it. These Rochester locals put on a stellar show and will be in Rochester again at the Psychic Garden on February 27th.
To close the night out it was Real Sugar, and if others knew the audience they played to, these musicians controlled the crowd, playing on the cover of “My Own Worst Enemy” earlier in the night, Real Sugar hit everyone with “Float on” by Modest Mouse, and kept pumping out tracks feeling like a 2000’s house party, playing an indie sound with a hint of some reggae as well.
Calabash has some real talent and should be watched, as they controlled the build-up of the crowd, brought things lower and then back up again.
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