By Nancy E. McCarthy
Count Blastula, a five-member Syracuse area-based band, has played the regional club and festival circuit for almost 20 years. Its sound keeps evolving but its signature mainstay is its wide-ranging spontaneous style.
“Funk, fusion jam band is probably the closest label that makes sense,” said band founder Adam Fisher when asked to describe the band’s current sound. The group performs about 35 percent original material, primarily written by Fisher, along with covering tunes from venerable jam bands such as The Allman Brothers Band, Vulfpeck and Phish.
“The level of talent and musicianship amongst all of us is second to none,” said bassist Jeremy Walts, a band member for almost a decade. “We are able to listen to each other live and adapt to what is happening in real time to create unique improvisational moments.”
Chris Fisher (no relation to Adam Fisher), a sales engineer from Cazenovia, caught his first Count Blastula show in 2022 at a friend’s recommendation. He’s been attending the band’s live gigs regularly ever since. “I was blown away,” said Chris. “I had no idea they were that good.”
Fisher likes their original music best. “All have an improvisational feel to them that anyone who loves jazz or jam bands will gravitate towards.”
Fisher formed Count Blastula in 2005 when he was in college. He is the only original player remaining. Joining Fisher (guitar/lead vocals) in the current line-up is Walts (bass/vocals), Dave Schlossberg (drums), Dave Donley (percussion) and Mike D’ambrosio (keys). D’ambrosio played with Fisher during high school and is a longtime band member since 2008.
Fisher finds his groove
“Music has always been a big part of my life,” said Fisher. He studied and played classical piano from first grade until seventh grade when he switched to taking guitar and then bass lessons. Fisher joined his high school jazz band, played in other bands with peers and began writing and recording his own songs at home, too.
Fisher studied classical guitar at Onondaga Community College (OCC) and graduated in 2006. He’s achieved his career goal to be a professional musician. Fisher has been a full-time performing musician for the past 15 years and previously taught private guitar and bass lessons. In addition to Count Blastula, Fisher has played with many local bands through the years and opened for some national acts as well. Presently, he plays bass in blues-rock jam bandSoul Risin’ and Latin groove rock band Grupo Pagan on lead guitar and vocals – both Syracuse-based projects. “I view music as freedom for myself as I get to pick who I play with and make my own schedule,” he said. “I also see it as putting a lot of positivity and good things into the world.”
Fisher has written and recorded extensively over the years. Not surprisingly, his songwriting approach is loose and improvisational, too. “Process is either music first and then lyrics or the other way around,” said Fisher. “For years I strived to create things I thought were totally unique until I realized almost everything has been done. Now, on occasion, I use existing songs – not to copy them but sometimes as a template or starting place to write.”
He’s definitely on the right track. Count Blastula has released five albums to date and won Syracuse Area Music Awards (“SAMMYS”) for the last three of them in the Best Jam Band category: in 2019 for Jive Honey, in 2022 for Strange Mutations and in 2024 for Blast Off.
Art and music
Count Blastula has an unusual sixth honorary band member: Syracuse visual artist Fletch Crangle. Crangle, a friend of Fisher’s, has produced many posters and designed album covers for the band through the years (including Blast Off). In 2010, he began painting live on or near the stage during Count Blastula shows. Now Crangle paints during most shows and his works are available to purchase at the end of each performance.
“The addition of live visual art enhances the experience by immersing the audience in not only audible but visual creativity within a live setting,” said Walts.
Crangle, a performance artist and muralist whose primary medium is acrylic paint, creates colorful abstracts plus psychedelic and graffiti inspired artworks. “Fletch is basically doing his own version of improvisational jamming through his live paintings,” Walts said.
Count Blastula’s performing schedule intentionally slows down during the winter months when they typically focus on new material to add to their repertoire. However, you can catch the band performing live in some November/December shows: the 443 Social Club & Lounge in Syracuse (November 3 and December 8), Moondog’s Lounge in Auburn (November 8) and The Fitz in Syracuse (November 15).
Visit countblastula.com for other dates and more information.
