NYS Music 20​14

Category: News Desk

  • Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate to Set the Westcott on ‘Faya’

    Syracuse, are you ready for music that will intrigue your mind, soothe your soul and get you hyped and dancing? Music that stretches the globe in influence and is half-born of a Syracuse native? Music sparked from the collaboration of a local hero turned international performer, and an acclaimed master from a far off land? Then you are ready for Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate. Following an incendiary local performance at the Grassroots Festival in Ithaca, NY, Joe Dricoll and Sekou Kouyate are sure to bring a dedicated Syracuse fan base and many new followers to the Westcott Theater on Aug. 22.

    JoeDriscollSekouKouyate (1)

    Faya, Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate’s debut album and the impetus for the current international tour, is appropriately titled. Throughout most of the album, Joe lays down funky or reggae-based guitar chords while Sekou’s insanely beautiful and rapid kora riffs lick the rhythm like flames. For those of you who have never heard a kora, you are in for a treat. The kora is a West African instrument that plays like a super-fast yet elegant harp. Sekou, a native of the West African country of Guinea, is no average kora player either- he is a master in all senses of the word. He is recognized throughout African music circles as a phenomenon, and known in France as the “Jimi Hendrix of the kora,” for his intensity, flowing virtuosity and innovative use of effects. Joe’s recent years of successful recording and touring as a solo act throughout Europe and the U.S. have polished his skills as a musician and solidified his sound, thereby enabling synthesis of different languages and musical styles. Joe’s unique take on hip-hop, funk, and reggae ties seamlessly into his exploration of exotic Afrobeat and traditional West African grooves.

    Joe and Sekou share vocals throughout the album, which is a testament to both musician’s adaptability. Joe’s characteristic and insightful (English) hip-hop lyrics are broken up by full verses (sung by both) in French. When Sekou met Joe at the Nuit Metis (Mixed Night) Festival in Marseille France, neither of them spoke much of each other’s language; and yet, they were able to construct (in one week) an innovative and highly entertaining musical project that is most definitely hot like Faya.

    Come out to the Westcott Theater on August 26th at 9pm and experience a new take on an old favorite and a cultural coalition that is sure to burn down the house.

  • Ain’t Messin’ Round: Gary Clark Jr. Set To Release ‘Live’ September 23

    At the age of 30, the young yet incredibly talented blues rock guitarist Gary Clark Jr. has captured audiences by storm both at small live shows and major festivals worldwide. With three studio albums and five EPs under his belt in the last 10 years, the time is only right for Clark to share a few blistering tracks from his live performances.

    GCJ Live

    Set for release on September 23, Gary Clark Jr. – LIVE will feature a two-disc set including original work and Clark’s take on some blues classics.

    His triumphant 2012 release, Blak and Blu, brought a full-bodied collection of influences – rock, soul, blues, and hip-hop. Gary Clark Jr. – LIVE will feature 10 of the 13 tracks off that studio album, capturing the live experience for most of that album.

    Both the physical vinyl and CD are available on Amazon, GaryClarkJr.com or digitally on iTunes. Pre-orders (available now) will have access to an instant download of “When My Train Pulls In.”

    Track listing:

    Gary Clark Jr. Live (disc 1)

    Catfish Blues (Robert Petway)
    Next Door Neighbor Blues
    Travis Country
    When My Train Pulls In
    Don’t Owe You A Thing
    Three O’ Clock Blues (Lowell Fulson)
    Things Are Changin’
    Numb

    Gary Clark Jr. Live (disc 2)

    Ain’t Messin’ ‘Round
    If Trouble Was Money (Albert Collins)
    Third Stone From The Sun / If You Love me Like You Say (Jimi Hendrix / Albert Collins)
    Please Come Home
    Black and Blu
    Bright Lights
    When The Sun Goes Down

    Check out Clark’s spectacular performance of “When My Train Pulls In” live from the 2013 Crossroads Festival:

  • Falling Up Working on New Album

    fallingFalling Up, the alternative/experimental rock band from Oregon, announced it is working on a follow-up to the 2013 concept album, Hours.

    The band received funding from Kickstarter supporters to record, market, and produce the album. While details about the album’s themes are under wraps, the band has made other matters public.

    The band is continuing to stay independent from a record company. Falling Up severed ties with Tooth & Nail in 2009 after a six-year partnership with the record label. Jessy Ribordy, lead singer and keys player, said that the cause of that split was due to the company’s pressure on the band to tour without spending an adequate amount of time writing music or recording.

    Ribordy and Co. – guitarists Nick Lambert and Daniel Elder, bassist Jeremy Miller, and drummer Josh Shroy – have posted a Kickstarter page, asking for contributions in the sum of $40,000 which to cover costs for recording, marketing, production, and distribution. Since there is no record company present, the band is taking a DIY approach. They are offering tiered rewards for contributions, ranging from an early download of the album to dinner with the band to an executive producer credit.

    The album is set to launch in 2015. For more details please visit the band’s Kickstarter page.

  • Cassadee Pope to play Upstate Concert Hall

    Cassadee Pope
    Cassadee Pope

    Country newcomer, Cassadee Pope, will make two stops in New York state at the end of the summer.

    The 24-year-old singer and songwriter was in the area earlier this spring as part of WGNA’s Secret Star Acoustic Jam at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady.

    Pope’s biggest claim to fame so far in her young career is that she won the third season of the singing competition show “The Voice,” as part of Blake Shelton’s team. She became the first woman to win the competition.

    As part of last year’s Live and Loud tour with Rascal Flatts and The Band Perry, Cassadee’s fame started to really stand out while she opened for the tour with some amazing performances last summer.

    Her debut solo album Frame By Frame, was released in the fall of 2013. Pope is also the vocalist for the pop punk band, Hey Monday, who are currently on hiatus.

    Cassadee’s single “Wasting All These Tears,” is certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Pope has also won a CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of  the Year for “Wasting All These Tears.”

    First stop in New York will be Thursday September 11 at the Irving Plaza in New York City. Show starts at 7pm. Tickets are $25. More information can be found online through Live Nation. Opening the show will be Joel Crouse.

    WGNA will sponsor the show on Sunday September 14 at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park. Doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm. Advanced tickets are $17.50 and $20 day of show. You can purchase tickets at all Ticketmaster locations, the club box office 371-0012 and Northern Lights Smoke Shop. Special Guest still TBA.

    Tickets go on sale Friday August 15 at 10 a.m.

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  • Coal Chamber Signs Deal With Napalm Records, Fourth Album in the Works

    Coal Chamber, who publicly split in 2002 during the “Dark Days” Tour, announced via Twitter they have signed a deal with Napalm Records and are soon to begin work on their fourth album.

    Frontman Dez Fafara has kept busy with DevilDriver the past decade, while drummer Mikey Cox and guitarist Meegs Rascón have played in the Los Angeles metal scene with We Are The Riot. Bassist Nadja Peulen rejoined the band as of November 2013. Peulen had this to say:

    “It’s been a long time coming,” stated Peulen through the band’s press release, “but the wait is over. There are no words to describe how excited I am to be working on the new Coal Chamber record. I can’t wait to see all your faces when we rock this album out.”

    Fafara expressed his excitement over reuniting with old bandmates.

    “How many times do you get a second chance at anything in life?” he said. “We toured the world, it was insane and crowds came out in force and we had a blast! For this I’m so appreciative! Now it’s time to release a new Coal Chamber record!”

    Cox and Rascón also expressed their eagerness to release new material to their loyal fans.

    Last year Coal Chamber performed a successful co-headlining U.S. Tour with Sevendust and Lacuna Coil.

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  • Sirens & Sailors Release Video, On Tour Now

    Sirens & Sailors, the five-piece metalcore group out of Rochester, recently released a new music video in support of their debut album, Skeletons.

    The band is currently on tour in Europe, where they will stay until the end of August before they pick up again to tour the United States along with Beartooth in the fall. The domestic tour only skirts Upstate New York, hitting venues in Toronto, New York City, and Worcester, Mass. in October. A full schedule of both the European and US tours can be viewed below.

    “The Chosen One” is Sirens & Sailors’ second video from their first, full-length album. Though Skeletons is marketed as the band’s debut album, they have two EPs under its belt since forming in 2005. Since then, the band has developed a healthy following, having toured extensively with such acts as Affiance, Dr. Acula, Knights of the Abyss, The Air I Breathe, and King Conquer. The group has also appeared on the Van’s Warped Tour.

    Sirens & Sailors Tour Dates
    August 11 – Leeds, UK – Temple Boom
    August 12 – Dundee. UK – Non Zero’s
    August 13 – Manchester, UK – Sound Contral
    August 14 – London, UK – Scream Lounge
    August 15 – Toulon, France – Local Morts Subtles
    August 16 – Barcelona, Spain – Sla Tube
    August 17 – Madrid, Spain – Sala – TBA
    August 19 – Paris, France – Le Klub
    August 20 – Oberhausen, Germany – Resonanzwek
    August 21 – Tilburg, Netherlands
    August 22 – Prague, Czech Republic – Chapeau Rouge
    August 23 – berlin, Germany – Open Air
    August 24 – Wroclaw, Poland – Cema Strona Miastra
    August 25 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Rock N’ Ribs
    August 26– Vienna, Austria – Das Bach
    August 28– Ostrava, Czech Republic – Barrak Club
    August 29- Mechelen, Belgium – Kamikaze

    w/Beartooth, Vanna, Alive with Me Tour
    October 3 – Chicago, IL – The Beat Kitchen
    October 5 – Toronto, ON – Hard Luck Bar
    October 6 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium (Upstairs)
    October 7 – Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary
    October 8 – New York, NY- Gramercy Theatre
    October 9 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
    October 10 – Richmond, VA – The Canal Club
    October 11 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theater
    October 12 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
    October 14 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
    October 15 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth
    October 17 – Houston, TX – Walters
    October 10/18 – Dallas, TX – The Door
    October 19 – San Antonio, TX – Backstage Live
    October 21 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
    October 22 – San Diego, CA – Soma Sidestage
    October 23 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
    October 24 – Sacramento, CA – Assembly Music Hall
    October 26 – Murray, UT – Murray Theater
    October 28 – Denver, CO – The Marquis Theater
    October 30 – St. Louis, MO – Fubar
    October 31 – Columbus, OH – The Basement

  • Amy Lee Announces Solo Debut

    Amy Lee
    Amy Lee

    The long anticipated solo debut album of Evanescence rock goddess Amy Lee is slated to be released on August 25.

    The album, titled Aftermath, serves as the soundtrack to the film War Story. You can pre-order the album right now through Amazon.com or iTunes.

    Lee informed everyone through her Facebook page about the upcoming release. This is the first music she has put out since 2012, when Evanescence went on hiatus after their world tour. Seven of the ten tracks are collaborations with American composer Dave Eggar. Two of the songs will solely be performed by Lee with another track performed with singer Malika Zarra.

    Tracklist for Amy Lee’s solo Aftermath

    Aftermath CD Cover
    Aftermath Album Cover Art

    01. Push the Button
    02. White Out – feat. Dave Eggar
    03. Remember to Breathe – feat. Dave Eggar
    04. Dark Water – feat. Malika Zarra
    05. Between Worlds – feat. Dave Eggar
    06. Drifter – feat. Dave Eggar
    07. Can’t Stop What’s Coming – feat. Dave Eggar
    08. Voice In My Head – feat. Dave Eggar
    09. Lockdown – feat. Dave Eggar
    10. After

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  • Nas Kicking off Illmatic’s 20th Anniversary in New York

    nas 2014 tour

    This year marked the 20th anniversary of Illmatic by Nas and he has dedicated the entire year to this landmark album. This fall he will be touring in support of not only the album, but also the documentary film Nas: Time is Illmatic. This film follows the making of the album to how it is seen and heard today. The film will open theatrically via the Tribeca Film Festival on October 1st followed by a nationwide expansion to follow. At these shows not only will Nas play the album from front to back, but at most stops the documentary will be shown as well.

    “I want to thank Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and the Tribeca Film family for all of the love and support they’ve given Time Is Illmatic,” said Nas. “It is an honor to be in partnership with them, and I feel there is a cultural kinship bonded by the city of New York.”

    “When we started this project, Erik Parker and I couldn’t imagine that audiences would one day be able to experience the film with a live performance of Illmatic, the album that started it all. It will make each night a truly special moment for the culture. We are sure people of all generations will be inspired by the story of Nas, the Jones family, and electrified by a live performance,” said One9.

    The tour kicks off at Rochester’s Main Street Armory on October 2 and stops at Albany’s Palace Theatre on October 3. Unfortunately Rochester will not have a screening of the documentary, but Albany will. These shows are sure to be special and tickets go on sale this Friday August 15th.

  • Amsterslam to Rock Carpet City

    Sharpshooters Billiards and Sports Pub promises it will get pretty loud in the Carpet City this Saturday. The Amsterdam venue plays host to “Amsterslam”, an outdoor, heavy metal event boasting ten acts for ten dollars.

    As of date, the playbill includes the following bands – The Power, Renewal Of Faith, Seven Year Silence, Accusations of the Insane, Built For Battle, Totally Gnarly, Declension, Widowed, Autumns Shroud, and CHOKE on your TEETH.

    The event is sponsored locally by Joelggernaut Productions, Needlewurks CP, and Revenge Tattoo.

    Attendance requires patrons to be at least 18-years old, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Gates to the show open at 3 p.m., with the first act scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

    Sharpshooters Billiards and Sports Pub is located at 35 E. Main Street in Amsterdam.

    amsterslam

  • moe.down 15 Comes Back to the Festival’s Original Time and Place

    moe.down 15 is set for its return Labor Day Weekend  at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, N.Y.

    After moving to a different location several years ago, the fest is finally back to the original time and place where it all began. There’s no doubt that moe. fans and live music lovers are pleased by the announcement.md2

    moe.down began at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort in 2000 with around 3,000 people in attendance and has since grown to become home to roughly 10,000 music revelers for Labor Day Weekend. More important than the time and location of the festival, is the band that started it all, moe.. The Rock/Jam quintet has had a revolving cast since their forming at the University of Buffalo in 1989, with Rob Derhak and Chuck Garvey being the only original members remaining. moe. has become a veteran and staple of the festival scene, getting their start at Gathering of the Vibes in 1998.md3

    This year’s line-up will include moe., Gogol Boredello, O.A.R., Lotus, Soulive, Les Claypool’s Due De Twang, Jerry Douglas Band, The Rich Robinson Band, Everyone Orchestra, Twiddle, Floodwood, Aqueous, The Werks, Conehead Buddha, American Babies, and Wild Adriatic. Representing the Upstate New York area is Aqueous of Buffalo, known for their Groove/Rock style, Conehead Buddha with their Latin and funk rhythms hailing from Coxsackie, Floodwood and their unforgettable String Band sound from Utica, Wild Adriatic of Saratoga Springs, and of course moe..

    The festival grounds at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort are a beautiful and well suited are for the event, with the ski slopes for seating. There are two stages on the grounds, with numerous vendors selling many different types of food and other goods. Two support groups for festivalgoers can be found; Yodeladies, a women’s support group and The Happy Hour Heroes, an AA Support group. Both being named after moe. songs. The adjacent hills are used as camping grounds, separated into Family and Sober, Quiet and Regular camping areas. A Kid’s Tent is set up during the day from 12-4pm for parents needing their young ones supervised. Snow Ridge Ski Resort is also right next to the local Steak N’ Brew for anyone wanting an actual meal at the fest.md1

    moe.down has been host to many big name headliners over the last 15 years, besides moe. themselves. Past headlining acts include Stanley Jordan Trio, Umphrey’s McGee, Slightly Stupid, The Black Keys, Cake, Redman and Method Man, Ani DiFranco, Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck, The Roots, Medeski Scofield Martin and Wood, Ziggy Marley, Keller Williams, Tea Leaf Green, Violent Femmes, Blues Traveler, Mike Gordon, Michael Franti and Spearhead, John Brown’s Body, Donna the Buffalo, Soulive, The Wailers, Dave Grissam Quartet, and Les Claypool.

    moe.down 15 will provide a nice mix of Jam, Rock, Funk, and Bluegrass for live music lovers from the Upstate area and abroad. The beautiful grounds, wholesome environment, and good music can be a perfect end of the summer getaway for any type of person. The fest starts Friday, August 29th and will end Sunday the 31st. Tickets are on sale now for $150 and may also be bought at the gate. Parking for the weekend will be an addition $10. More information can be found at the moe.down website.

    moe.down 15 Festival Playlist

    Warm yourself up for moe.down 15 with a preview playlist of this year’s preforming artists.

    Performers on the playlist include moe., Les Claypool’s Duo De Twang, O.A.R., Soulive, Lotus, Floodwood, Aqueous, Twiddle, and The Werks. Be sure to check out the upcoming moe.down 15 Festival Preview via NYS Music Music Guide.

    moe.down 15 will be held on Labor Day weekend, August 29-31, at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, N.Y. For tickets, please visit the band’s website.

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