NYS Music 20​15

Tag: Terminal 5

  • Best of NYS Music 2015: Staff Pick for Best Music Town in New York State

    With an expansive state such as NY, there’s a multitude of large cities and small towns that are home to some widely diverse music venues and scenes abroad.  Teetering as the fourth most populated state in the country, New York houses just under 20 million people with the majority of the larger cities snuggled along interstate 90.  It’s a seamless route for bands to travel and schedule shows as they pass through the Empire State.  However, our team of merry music lovers here at NYS Music voted upon one town to be the best scene for live music.  I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone that this 5-borough concrete jungle was the top pick for best music town in New York State.  That’s right, New York City indeed.  Coming in hot at #1 is the largest city in the United States and has been declared as the Best Music Town for many years now.   It’s probably not going to be topped anytime soon either.

    Jim Houle - NYC - New York City - Manhattan

    To a surprising degree, Albany and Buffalo were not so distant behind the Big Apple in the standings.  The Capital District has much to offer with many venues of all capacities spread throughout the city. A brief list starts with The Hollow Bar & Kitchen, The Palace Theatre, The EGG, The Fuze Box, and The Times Union Center.  Buffalo also has an impressive list of stages and events such as the Town Ballroom, The Tralf, The Waiting Room, Buffalo Iron Works, Nietzsche’s, and the First Niagara Center.

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    Oh, but the city that never sleeps has far more venues than anyone can imagine.  Clubs, bars, city parks, warehouses, basements, rooftops, to numerous theatres and stadiums are abundant in the melting pot.  It’s glorious!  The most regarded venue in NYC would have to be Madison Square Garden.  It’s beautiful, accommodating, spacious, acoustically dynamic, and it is just historically pleasing to be in and around.  MSG holds only the world’s largest acts and will be home to Phish for four consecutive nights at the end of 2015.

    The Barclays Center is home to the Brooklyn Nets, seats about 19,000 people, and opened in 2012 with a major list of performers, including Jay-Z and Pearl Jam.  Its rivals in size would be MSG, Nassau Coliseum, Nikon at Jones Beach Amphitheater, and the IZOD Center (located in NJ).

    Radio City Music Hall is the queen of all theaters in NYC with its 5,933 seat capacity, historical Art Deco interior, prestigious location, and Grand Stage.  The elevator system in the theater is so advanced, that the U.S. Navy had incorporated identical hydraulics into WWII aircraft carriers and had security personnel guarding the theater during wartime.  The Hall is sprinkled with depression-era artwork in the lobby, hallways, and the mezzanine.  It’s deserving of the nickname, Showplace of the Nation.

    Though, just because NYC is ample in size, poses home to the largest/most popular arenas and theaters in the country, doesn’t mean that’s where the real glory is.  People tend to have more fun in the intimate venue, smaller capacity rooms where you can practically reach out and touch the artists from any angle of the room.  The venues that sell tickets at reasonable prices, have great selection of beverages, are decorated with passion, and cater to the individual concert go-er rather than consumers in bulk, are what makes the experience favorable.  The Empire City has all of that and more.   Some other venues that hold NYC so high are: The Beacon Theatre, The  Hammerstein Ballroom, Carnegie Hall, Playstation Theater, City Winery, Terminal 5, Brooklyn Bowl, Governors Island, Central Park, Bowery Ballroom, Village Vanguard, Cake Shop, and Saint Vitus are just a sliver of the pie.

    New Years Eve in New York City, well really, the whole week around New Years, is chock full of music. Just check out this list put together by Catskill Chill Music Festival!

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    Aside from being the music mecca of the world, it’s almost in a class of its own.  Until that changes, go visit the Big Apple and enjoy some live music!

  • Eli Young Band and LOCASH Bring Country to NYC

    Sunday nights may be the saddest day of the week with a fresh workweek starting bright and early the next morning, but Eli Young Band and LOCASH didn’t let the night of the week stop them from putting on a wonderful show at Terminal 5 in Hells Kitchen one of New York City’s nicest music venues.

    LOCASH, one of country music’s most fun duos comprised of Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, opened up the show. Anyone who has seen these two guys live before knew they were going to be in for a wild and exciting show. They never fail to connect with the audience and keep them on their feet for their entire set.  The recently rebranded LOCASH (previously known as LoCash Cowboys) began their set with upbeat C.O.U.N.T.R.Y, which definitely set mood for what would come next. Throughout their time on stage they played a combination of older hits, well known covers, and a number unreleased songs to be included on a future album or EP.  The duo performed “You Gonna Fly” which was made into their first #1 hit when Keith Urban recorded and released the song in 2011, as well as Tim McGraw’s hit “Truck Yeah,” which they co-wrote along with Chris Janson and Danny Myrick. Brust and Lucas are talented and proven songwriters, a quality that is apparent when listening to their music and seeing the success writing has brought them. Another cover that delighted the crowd was the duo”s own version of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” which as expected was a a fan favorite.

    One of the highlights of LOCASH’s set was how many new tracks they performed. The sweet “I Know Somebody” a song from their EP that will be released in October was a definite standout. The infectious track features some beautiful harmonies has all the makings of a future single. “Drunk Drunk” which shockingly was about alcohol is a great live song, while “Wheels Fall Off” is another romantic song about growing old together. The other most notable new song for LOCASH was the John Legend and One Republic inspired “Shipwrecked” a track that they plan to release as their next single. The song features great lyrics and more awesome harmonies between the duo.

    LOCASH closed their set with their current single “I Love This Life” which recently reached the top 25 at country radio and should continue to climb the charts. The song is their self-proclaimed antidote to all of the negativity constantly spewed out on news channels across the country. It’s anthemic feel and message to appreciate everything that you have in life makes it a relatable and uplifting track that has certainly hit the mark with country music listeners. The fans knew every word to the song, and it had them on their feet one last time before LOCASH left the stage.

    Headliners Eli Young Band took the stage not long after. With a distinguishable vocals, a solid core of radio hits and quality songwriting, the guys in Eli Young Band (Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson) are an experienced and confident group who can always be counted on to put on an amazing show.

    The band opened with “Drink You Up,” a lively track from their March 2015 EP Turn It On.  They performed the title track and their current single from the album. With recent requests to incorporate more songs from early on in their discography into their live shows, the group delighted those who have followed them since their inception when they performed old fan favorites like “Guinevere,” and “Love Songs.” The feel good title track to their last full length album 1,000 Towns, picked up the pace, outlining the amazing things about small town living, while the heartfelt and impactful “Prayer For The Road” from the same album was dedicated to service members and first responders. Eli Young Band also performed the second single from the album “Dust.” 

    Any good concert includes several well-known covers, and Eli Young Band didn’t disappoint with their own renditions of Garth Brooks’ haunting “Thunder Rolls,” David Lee Murphy’s “Dust On The Bottle,” and Tom Petty’s “Fly.” The group also ventured into the pop side of things with a performance of Andy Grammar’s “Honey I’m Good.” The band and Grammar have collaborated to release a duet version of the song together that is available now on iTunes.

    Eli Young Band has scored three #1 singles at country radio. The first, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” was inspired as Mike Eli told the crowd by the story of how each of his parents reacted when he told them he wanted to be a musician, and how he met his current band-members while attending college. The uplifting and rousing song about not letting anything stop you from following your dreams and reaching for your goals reflects the lessons learned from each of these stories and sparked an amazing live performance of the group’s first #1 hit as a group. The crowd enthusiastically carried the entire chorus on their own towards the end of the performance, which had to have been a meaningful moment for Eli Young Band to be a part of.   Their performance of their most recent #1 hit “Drunk Last Night” was also a memorable one, but the band closed the show with perhaps their most recognizable and beloved song, “Crazy Girl,” a sweet track about making sure loved ones know you care about them. After leaving the stage briefly, and the crowd cheering for one more song, Eli Young Band returned for an encore, performing a fan favorite from their 2008 album Level.

    LOCASH and Eli Young Band brought fun and great country music to New York City on Sunday night. Fans in NY will undoubtedly be looking forward to their next chance to see each act live. 

  • Glass Animals and Empress Of materialize from the Neon Fog

    Flocks of leather jacket-clad twenty-somethings shuffled through the dim narrow corridor of Terminal 5 Thursday, Oct. 15 for the luminescent lullabies and dance beat ballads by Glass Animals and Empress Of. Fans donning zebra masks and those carrying pineapples (a Glass Animals emblem) all found their silhouettes shrouded in a hazy green light, with tropical flora caressing their shoulders as they trudged toward the music. Ticket stubs in hand they made their way to the high ceilinged gymnasium style venue, as a politely prompt Empress Of began trilling her gentle, innocent vocals right at 8:00 pm.

    glass animalsThough Empress Of, known off stage as Lorely Rodriguez, performs as a solo act, she was accompanied on stage by a keyboardist and live drummer. She stood close to the front of the stage with untamable confidence, her wild mane of curly hair giving her a distinct and eye-catching profile as she thrashed her head to the beat, corkscrew ends illuminated by vibrant hazy hues of purple, red and blue. After her first song, Rodriguez thanked the crowd with a breathy, unexpectedly sheepish “I’m so excited to be opening for Glass Animals.” Her soft tone between songs painted a distinct contrast to her bold presence while performing.

    During her second song, “Everything is You,” the first track off her debut album Me, Rodriquez’s fluttery vocals delicately flickered as the audience swayed, processing the powerful bass beat tickling their leg hairs. With her left arm completely outstretched to the side with mic in other hand, Rodriguez created a prophetic presence, repeatedly singing the existential line “You are everything, everything is you.”

    Next came “Need Myself,” a song describing an inherent need for independence. The lines “I think I’m the one I need” and “Just need myself/To love myself” were paired with a fierce sequence of rib cage-rattling bass. It got the heart pumping while the words invoked a more acute awareness of the metaphysical heart and the need for self-love. Distinctive beams of white light cascaded down upon the stage, illuminating Rodriguez at varying intervals, accentuating her singularity and independence as a performer.

    Throughout her set, Rodriguez emitted an undeniable honesty and sincerity with her songs. She stood before fans as a young passionate artist, with a great deal of emotional prowess from which to pull inspiration for her music. There were times when she almost appeared to get lost in the throes of her own sentiments, head banging to the beat, yet still singing flawlessly. Her voice carried through the room, taking a willing audience along for the spirited journey.

    Glass Animals followed, steeped heavily in fog, busting onto the scene with “Walla Walla,” which opens with a powerful and distinctive tribal drum beat before the bass adds to the heavy tone of the song. The incongruity of the convoluted lyrics add a fascinating contrast to the crisp, concrete beat. Lines like “Wiggle toes on wicker braids/Hanging with their nails so frayed/Mini fruits all bone dry/And a cape, black tie-dyed,” leave their meaning completely up to the listener’s interpretation.

    glass animals empress of“Hazy” offered a more nuanced beat riddled with subtle effects incorporating what sounded like a collection of snaps, rattling bones and exaggerated rain drops. Lead singer David Bayley, equipped with a tambourine, bounded around the stage in an explosion of animated energy. The crowd sang along to the chorus, providing additional background effects for fellow band mates Drew MacFarlane (guitar/keyboard), Edmund Irwin-Singer (bass/keyboard) and Joe Seaward (drums) to feed off.

    The audience cheered wildly when crowd favorite “Gooey” oozed from the loudspeakers as gentle xylophone pirouetted with Bayley’s velvety vocals. After a few measures of vocals and percussion conducted their delicate dance, the bouncy drum beat pounced and the sea of humans in front of the stage erupted into motion. One gentleman sporting a white Hawaiian-style shirt dotted in small pineapples smiled sweetly to his lady as he impressively mouthed the lines of nonsensical lyrics.

    Many other couples were too busy intimately enjoying the inner workings of each others mouths to sing along. For those still observing the stage, several large incandescent bulbs with what looked like satellite dishes ensconcing each, stood erect around the perimeter of the stage. Each time Bayley recited the words “peanut butter vibes,” the bulbs splashed a golden luminescence across every surface of the room. While visually encapsulating, the musicality of the live performance accurately captured the magic Glass Animals offers with their debut album Zaba.

    The English indie group ended the evening with “Pools,” which renders moments of clarity with more direct language. The distinct possibility that it might be a love song was supported by the lines, “We sip the wind through lips of dust/And out it comes, warm wisps of love.” Bayley delighted observers during the energetic song by tossing a whole pineapple off stage, in an act of love and solidarity for all of his pineapple-brandishing fans. The playful gesture concluded the show with a warmth and satisfaction as audience members bonded over the sight of an airborne pineapple.

  • Glass Animals and Empress Of will Take Over Terminal 5

    An evening of enchantment awaits those who intend on attending Terminal 5 in New York City Thursday, Oct. 15. Solo artist Lorely Rodriguez, going by the stage name Empress Of, will open the show, immersing the crowd in a sea of handpicked electronic beats layered with her ethereal Spanish-influenced vocals. Rodriguez released her debut album Me, in September 2015, and will be pulling from this freshly published collection of sound confections.

    glass animals empress ofEnglish indie rock group Glass Animals will take over, performing songs off their debut album Zaba, which dropped in June 2014. Frontman Dave Bayley’s feathery falsetto voice will be accompanied by his keyboard prowess along with Drew MacFarlane (guitar/keyboard), Edmund Irwin-Singer (bass/keyboard) and Joe Seaward (drums). Their eclectic and undeniably sexy sound ambience instils vivid depictions of tropical scenery leaving the listener to feel as though they’ve been immersed in a dance jungle of of desire. Don’t miss this.

    Doors at 7:00 pm. Get tickets here

  • Bring Me the Horizon take the sold out Terminal 5 by storm

    Bring Me The Horizon brought their headlining tour to Terminal 5 in New York City for an incredible sold out show on October 5 with phenomenal production with even better stage presence. With the help of support band, Issues and opener PVRIS fans were given a night they are sure to remember for many tours to come. Fresh off the release of That’s the Spirit on Columbia Records, Bring Me the Horizon have reached a new level in their career moving on from selling out Best Buy Theater, now Playstation Theater, to selling out Terminal 5 effortlessly.

    PVRIS kicked off the evening with “White Noise” the title track off their first full length record released on Rise Records. The group has recently been creating a very strong and dedicated fanbase through their powerful live performances. With the help of Rise Records, PVRIS has worked tirelessly to create that fanbase through a series of opening slots on larger tours including the first leg of Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Siren’s world tour.. The group actually created such a strong fanbase across the country that they were permanently bumped up to the main stage for the summer on Warped tour, which they absolutely capitalized on building their name even more with each passing day.  Frontwoman Lynn Gunn has an incredible voice that sets her apart from so many vocalists; she commands the stage with powerful vocals and passionate lyrics. One song in particular that always showcases her voice perfectly is the second song that they played, “Fire.” The song emphasizes the power in her voice giving her many opportunities to enthrall the crowd. PVRIS went on to play other fan favorites including “Holy” and “Smoke.” They closed out their set with the first two songs released off of White Noise, “My House” and “St. Patrick.” They had the majority of the crowd singing along all throughout their set but it was during these two songs in particular that it seemed as if the entire crowd was involved, singing along and off their feet. PVRIS certainly did a great job of drawing fans out early and getting them engaged from their first song and throughout their entire set.

    Next to take the stage was ISSUES. They are the type of band that never fail to get the entire crowd engaged regardless of how familiar fans may be with their music. They kicked things off in a very unusual fashion, prior to playing any of their songs frontmen Tyler Carter and Michael Bohn took the time to introduce the band. They proceeded from there into “Stingray Affliction” and “Life of a Nine” from their 2014 self titled release. As expected they brought such incredible energy and enthusiasm to the stage that it was contagious among the crowd and they didn’t let up at all during their set. Next up was the extremely moving and inspiring, “Never Lose Your Flames”; it is a song that has always resonated extremely well with fans and likely always will which is why it has become a staple song for the group at every show. From there they played a new song, “The Realest” which truly showcased their ability to captivate a crowd through their energy and stage presence because the crowd remained engaged and involved despite not knowing any of the words. The song seemed to be very well received by those in attendance which is not surprising as they too have been doing an incredible job of creating a very dedicated fanbase also through persistent touring including the direct support slot of the Future Hearts Tour last spring. Next up was the emotional, “Disappear (Remember When)” which has also become a staple song for the group along with their closing song and most recent single, “Hooligans.” The intensity reached a new level during “Hooligans” as once again the entire building seemed to be full and singing along to every word emphatically.

    After what seemed longer than normal Bring Me the Horizon was ready to take the stage and the first song off of their most recent release, That’s the Spirit, “Doomed” kicked in. The group set the bar fairly high on their last U.S. tour in the fall of 2014 supporting A Day to Remember for production and stage set up, but they absolutely out did themselves this time. The umbrella from their album cover flashed behind them in lights interchangeably with other aspects of their album including the multicolored background from their album booklet and other captivating lighting designs.  Along with a captivating background, CO2 cannons accompanied various breakdowns and heavy moments of the set which magnified the intensity. After that they continued on into “Happy Song” which started off with the entire sold out crowd chanting “S-P-I-R-I-T” along to the backtrack.

    From there they went into some older favorites off off Sempiternal (2013) including “Go to Hell, for Heaven’s Sake” and “The House of Wolves” and what seems to have become a staple song for the group, “Chelsea Smile” from Suicide Season (2010). Next up was one of the most emotional and raw tracks from Sempiternal, “Can You Feel My Heart” which never fails to get the entire crowd singing along emphatically. When it reached the verse with the repetition of “I’m scared to get close and I hate being alone. I long for that feeling to not feel at all. The higher I get, the lower I’ll sink. I can’t drown my demons they know how to swim.” Frontman Oli Sykes did not say a word, the crowd took over and sang for him. For the last repetition of it Sykes joined the crowd for an emotional sing along. One of the most popular songs from Sempiternal “Shadow Moses,” always elicits a strong reaction from the crowd and this show was no different. Bring Me the Horizon has such a strong stage presence and creates an emotional connection with the crowd through their live performance which makes sets them apart from so many other bands in their genre and makes their shows extremely memorable. From there they carried into “Throne” from That’s the Spirit, “Sleepwalking” and “Antivist” to close out their set.

    Bring Me the Horizon returned for an encore starting with “True Friends” from the new record. They always manage to bring the intensity and energy to a new level during their encores despite having an incredibly engaging set the entire night. The next song in their encore was another older favorite, “Blessed With a Curse” from There is a Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen it. There is a Heaven Let’s Keep it a Secret (2010), which really seemed to be a nice surprise to the crowd which consisted of a mix with newer fans and seasoned fans. The final song Bring Me the Horizon played for the evening was their most well known song from the new album, “Drown.” The song has been heard across New York on various rock radio stations, which was a huge break through for the group and has certainly helped the group grow exponentially in the months since its release.

    All three groups have unique and charismatic stage presences which when combined create a very memorable night for fans. This tour has one of the strongest lineups of all of the fall tours which makes it a must see for fans.

  • Ghost Performs a Ritual for a Sold Out Terminal 5

    As the darkness rolled across Hell’s Kitchen, thousands of fans poured into Terminal 5 to see Ghost on Sunday, September 27. Touring behind their latest release Meliora, Ghost set out on their ‘Black To The Future’ North American tour last week. Since night 1 in Washington, D.C., Ghost has been packing venues and bringing their live ritual to the masses.

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    Papa Emeritus III of Ghost

    Sunday’s show started off with the doors opening early to get some fans upstairs on the rooftop bar so security could clear space on the crowded New York City streets. Once doors opened to let fans inside the actual venue, space quickly filled up. Before opening band Purson even took the stage, the floor and both balcony levels were jammed packed. Unfortunately for fans who didn’t secure a spot along the rail on the top levels, it would be a tough night for them to see Ghost. Although the line of sight for many fans on the balcony was obstructed, it didn’t stop those fans from dancing and singing along with the bands all night.

    After a quick set by opening band Purson, the house lights went dark and the smell of incense filled the air. The show started with “Spirit” as the Nameless Ghouls took the stage one by one before Papa Emeritus III appeared out of the center. Following the track list off of Meliora, Ghost then went straight into “From The Pinnacle To The Pit”. It was no surprise to see Ghost basically play their entire new album due to the high praise and success it’s had since coming out on August, 21st. Even though the band played most of Meliora, they still played a total of 6 songs of Infestissumam and 4 songs off Opus Eponymous. Fans of Ghost seemed to get everything they could have wished for on Sunday. The Nameless Ghouls who are the backing instrumentalists of Ghost are all fantastic musicians. Without being able to show facial expressions and interact with the crowd verbally, the Nameless Ghouls do a great job of expressing themselves behind the masks. The two guitar players mix perfectly with one another and get filled in with the percussion, bass and keys. Papa Emeritus III took the time to speak to the crowd between almost every song. Papa joked about “Frankie” (Pope Francis) being in town the same time Ghost was there but not coming to the show. Papa also shared with the crowd that his mother was at the show, although she wasn’t seen from the crowd.

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    Papa Emeritus III of Ghost

    Towards the end of the night, the band went acoustic for a version of “Jigolo Har Megiddo” that didn’t slow the night’s performance down one bit. Even with an acoustic song, the wild New York City crowd was still moshing. Ghost may not seem like the band to create mosh pits but Sunday night there was something in the air. From the first song to the very last, giant circles in the crowd could be seen from above as fans threw down in the pit. During some songs a second smaller pit would develop in another area of the floor. Before ending the night with an encore performance, Ghost played their cover of “If You Have Ghosts” which was very fitting. To cap the night off, Papa Emeritus III took a poll of who in the crowd had seen Ghost before. As the majority of the sold-out Terminal 5 crowd raised their hand, Papa responded with, “Okay, everyone here besides you,” talking to a young lady in the crowd. He then told the girl to just mime the words like he does sometimes, which made the crowd laugh. Everyone at that point knew Ghost was ending the show with “Monstrance Clock.” The crowd dominated the song by singing along word by word with Papa. At the end of the song, Ghost left the stage and the night was over. Ghost said their goodbyes and thank yous prior to the encore and the crowd let them know they put on an unforgettable performance with a loud applause.

    The ‘Black To The Future Tour’ just started and there’s plenty more dates around the U.S. to catch. For all the dates and other band information, fans can visit Ghost’s Website. Fans can also check the official Facebook and Instagram pages for exclusive content from Papa Emeritus and the Nameless Ghouls.

    Ghost Setlist: Spirit, From The Pinnacle To The Pit, Ritual, Con Clavi Con Dio, Per Aspera Ad Inferi, Majesty, Stand By Him, Prime Mover, Body And Blood, Devil Church, Cirice, Year Zero, He Is, Absolution, Mummy Dust, Jigolo Har Megiddo, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, If You Have Ghosts, Monstrance Clock

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