A video has surfaced showing destruction done to a rented 1967 Vox Continental organ by The Budos Band, a group based out of Staten Island. The cell phone video shows the keyboardist, Mike Deller, on the floor attempting to play the organ that had fallen off the stand, with no one even attempting to pick up or check on the condition of the instrument. How the organ got knocked off is unclear. What is clear, however, is that this instrument was being rented out as backline equipment, and Deller is seen literally ripping the keys right off the organ.
The band responded to the damage on their Facebook page with the following:
“Over the weekend during our set, we managed to damage a rather expensive rented vintage organ. We regret that our actions resulted in equipment damage and will ensure this will not happen again. We already offered to pay for the damage that was done days ago, and we hope that this incident can be handled in a professional manner. The damage was not done on purpose, and it was an unfortunate side effect of our stage show. If you have seen us play live shows, you know we give 110 percent every time we play. The paying fans expect that much from us and we also expect that much from each other. Playing at our level of intensity sometimes produces unwanted results and we regret any damages we may have caused.
We love our fans and the people behind the scenes that make it all happen. We appreciate all of your support and look forward to seeing you out on the road.
The packed venue of seated fans were told by Grace in between songs, her performance will feed from their energy. She elaborated sharing that if people felt like like they wanted to stand, dance sway, tap their foot to feel comfortable with enjoying as they wished. The crowd loosened up as she continued through her set and took up her offer to get up close to the stage if they wanted to. Fans faces were lit up with smiles as they enjoyed her close interaction by reaching out to them from stage. The air filled with the excitement while she was on stage. A piece of that night stays with each person of the energy that was created by the performance, music and people.
Grace and each member of the band played the whole set with meaning and directed it to those there to see them. It was an incredible treat to have attended to see Grace in action whipping her hair as she moved to the music playing. Every song was given the attention, emotion, energy and soul as if it was the first time they played it, no mechanical movement or sound could be noticed.
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Setting on her piano had a large crystal on one side and an alien figurine on the other, a sign she is filled with wonder, depth, love and channeling energy. It was unforgettable night because of Grace Potter coming to Jazz Fest. The tone had been set for the remaining 9 days of the festival after that show. The Jazz Fest had the positive vibe of people coming to enjoy music to dance, smile and have a good time with one another each day. Check out these moments caught from the night brought to you by NYS Music.
As part of a series of Phish SPAC afterparties presented by NYS Music, McLovins took the stage at Nanola in Malta following Phish’s third night at SPAC. Check out NYS Music’s gallery and video from their set below.
NYS Music goes to Cuba is a multi-part series detailing Cuban music and culture, the impact of Western music on Cuban music and the potential for change given the recent pending normalization of relations between The United States and Cuba.
Let me get something out of the way: Cuba, a Caribbean island that until recently was illegal for Americans to visit, is not going to be ruined by the influx of Americans and tourists now that travel is (somewhat) permitted between the two countries. There will be some change in time, as all things are prone to change, but Cuba is not changing drastically as a result.
That was my mindset when initially considering a trip to discover what music was hidden away from American ears on the island, in the clubs and on the streets of Havana. It took about a day before I realized that while there will be some cultural influence shared between the two countries, Americanization will not take foothold to the degree some predict.
A time capsule of a city, Havana is a dichotomy of beautiful and tattered buildings side-by-side, where Wifi is slowly becoming available – thanks in part to President Obama’s recent visit (per Cuban’s who expressed their admiration for him), an upgrade for citizens in and around Havana – and examples of entrepreneurship are seen on a daily basis, with hostels popping up throughout the city (if you go, we recommend Enzo’s Backpackers), and merchants selling Rolling Stones shirts with the Cuban flag on the iconic ‘tongue’ logo. Even the filming of Fast and the Furious 8 shows signs of things changing in the city, but the original spirit and heart of Havana are intact and will assuredly remain so for years to come, even as the curio closed off to Americans for 55 years prepares for tourists fresh off cruise ships beginning to dock in Havana Harbor.
Staying in a tall apartment building overlooking Estadio Latinoamericano, on the evening of our arrival, my photographer and longtime friend Chris and I head out to Fabrica de Arte Cubano, a former cooking oil factory transformed into a multi-level center for the arts, including a multimedia art gallery and performance spaces for dance, music and theater. The creation of musician X Alfonso, with the backing of the Ministry of Culture, the venue is labyrinthine, with something around every corner, whether it be live performances, gallery pieces, performance art, or a Bohemian gathering of locals and tourist from across the globe sipping on drinks, it was a welcome surprise for our first night observing local culture and taking in as yet-undetermined musical offerings.
The first floor held a 500 person room with a DJ setup for later that evening, the entire room having a 90s dorm room feel and soundtrack – Black Crowes and Jay Z videos on a large screen, with décor to rival that of many clubs back home. Upstairs in the art gallery, odd photography is meshed with paint and various media, while a series of old, naked women on the beach with breasts exposed highlights the beauty of aging.
We head down into the largest room in the complex and find a drink and seat for a performance, which is first come, first serve and wherever you can manage to find a sit – a step, a chair, behind a riser… the area filled in calmly with a little buzz before “Night Club” began.
As the cabaret begins, a cue card girl holds up different numbers for the scenes, with scenes unfolding as such: a female lounge singer with a gritty voice welcomed the crowd; a woman performed a sultry tap dance; a male lounge singer sang a Salsa song; some interpretative tap dancing,; a guy in a tutu performing ballet with vibraphone and percussion as a backup; a woman with a fruit basket giving a confusing yet definitely suggestive performance; a simulated girl fight, and a full cast medley at the end. The audience talked and milled about, becoming part of the show passively, actively and unintentionally.
While we were in the minority with our nascent Spanish, even without knowing what they are saying or singing, you easily got the gist of the show through body language, scenery and context – the club is open for business, the various employees sing about the club, their work, drama ensues, drama is resolved, everyone dances, everyone is happy. It could be an episode of Sabado Gigante but it’s better. It’s not TV. It’s FAC.
Following the show, we head downstairs in Fabrica de Arte Cubano to the first room with the great décor. DJ Seycel comes on about midnight and the younger portion of the crowd remains for a house set with deep bass and various Latin and American hits mixed in. The main takeaway from the night is the overall focus on the music – hardly any phones are out beyond a photo here and there. No one is staring at their phone, and there are no glowsticks or candi kids, just straight dancing to the music. I miss that about shows back home – the focus and pure attention and dedication to the artist and his craft. I for one am guilty of that, and having no internet access for 8 days of travel is a very welcome vacation in itself.
We later find that this first glance at Havana and Cuban culture is not a diamond in the rough, but clearly one of the most unique multi-purpose venues that embraces a wide variety of art like few do. Fabrica de Arte Cubano brought to mind the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, where numerous museums and performance spaces are found in one large enclosed area. Here in Havana, it is a sought after venue in the evening, open until 4am with lines forming early.
Performances starting at Midnight or later is something that we slowly get used to, and this later start time found between American and Havanan clubs is a cultural apparatus, where clubs do not begin to fill up until 11pm, and some shows not starting until as late as 1am, as we find out the next night in our pursuit of Salsa.
moe. drummer Vinnie Amico took some time out before a recent show at the Hollow in Albany with Floodwood and Gratefully Yours for an interview with NYS Music’s Neil Benjamin Jr.
Vin gave some answers about the future of moe.down (spoiler alert: It’s not dead!). He also discussed moe.’s just-announced Jam Cruise appearance, the Floodwood lineup change, his history of playing the Grateful Dead, his many sit-ins, his degree in economics, and plenty more!
On Sunday, March 6, Brad of Annie in the Water along with Hayley Jane asked via Facebook for suggestions on what to write a song about. Within an hour, they had more than 50 suggestions and proceeded to write a song throughout the evening and recorded the final take around 6:30am as the sun was coming up. The song, “Dr. Ashlee Little the Narwhal and Other Earthly Creatures (This Will be a Long Song),” has a silly storyline with a real message of love and optimism, inspired by their frends. The track was recorded in Clifton Park, NY. Enjoy!
The latest installment of Otis Live Presents features Blind Owl Band, whose roots are found deep in the Adirondacks. Their tour kicks off February 4 at Saint Lawrence University’s Pub 56. Catch them throughout New York and New England in February and March!
Presenting NYS Music in Motion, a video series from NYS Music and Videographer Schuyler Warrenchak. This series will highlight performances by a variety of bands throughout New York State and bring the experience of being at a show to our ever-widening audience.
Our first installment is aptly from the January 1, 2016 performance of Mister F at The Hollow in Albany. Mister F performed with Particle after moe.’s show at The Palace Theater just two blocks up North Pearl Street. This was a bittersweet show as it was guitarist Andrew Chamberlaine’s final performance with the band. Watch the band tear through the proggy “Do it Again,” and stay tuned for more NYS Music in Motion in the near future.
Upstate Rubdown, based out of New Paltz, NY, has a new video courtesy of Otis Live. Having performed at Otis Mountain Get Down on September 12, 2015, the group of diverse musicians who combine jazz, gospel, folk, bluegrass and Broadway with soul, Motown and R&B create a unique sound. Their video is from a session in the woods of Baxter Camp at Otis Mountain features three tracks: “How’m I Doin?,” “Jimmy (You Know How To Live),” and “Old Advice.” Read an interview with the group and enjoy the latest from Otis Live.
Credit: Directed & Edited by George Watts, Produced by Quillan George & George Watts, Additional Shots by Kayhl Cooper, Scott Sweitzer & Tazer Landlow, Field Recording Mastered by Eric Maier at Future Fields Recordings
