CAKE doesn’t sound like anyone else, and that’s been true for thirty years. John McCrea’s deadpan vocal delivery, the interplay of vibraslap and trumpet, the bone-dry wit of lyrics that dissect American culture with surgical precision — it all adds up to one of the most distinctive catalogs in alternative rock. They’re bringing it all to Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards on May 30, and the Central New York outdoor venue couldn’t be a better fit.
From “The Distance” and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” to deep cuts that reward longtime fans, CAKE’s live shows are tight, no-nonsense affairs — the band plays with the same economy and precision that defines their recordings. There are no extended jams or pyrotechnics, just impeccable musicianship and songs that hit harder in person than you’d expect from a band this cerebral.
Beak & Skiff’s outdoor concert series has become one of Central New York’s premiere warm-weather music destinations, and CAKE on a late May evening among the apple orchards is about as good as it gets. This is a show for people who like their rock smart, funky, and completely original.