NYS Music 20​16

Category: News

  • Albany Palace Theatre Announces $65 Million Upgrade

    Announced at a news conference this morning, the Palace Theatre in Albany has put plans in motion to expand and renovate the historic venue. The approximate cost of the project is $65 million.

    palace theatre albany

    This is one of numerous other projects to upgrade and reinvigorate downtown Albany, alongside improvements to the Times Union Center and the Albany Capital Center convention building (set to open March, 2017).

    According to the Times Union, the planned changes to the Palace Theatre include an addition of a second smaller theater on North Pearl Street and an expansion of the lobby. Changes to the lobby will include more concessions, an elevator, and expanded paths for wheelchair access. The most noteworthy change is the development of a post production facility for digital production companies to mix sound and video.

    The Palace originally opened doors in October 1931, presenting vaudeville acts and films. It underwent previous renovations in 2002 and 2003, and now houses diverse events. According to the Times Union, in the past four years the Palace has increased its number of shows by 53 percent.

    Upcoming events can be found here.

  • Pianist Holly Bowling Reimagines Phish’s “Chicago Wedge,” Announces San PhranArt Vinyl Release Party

    Known for her classical reinterpretations of Phish and Grateful Dead jams, San Francisco pianist Holly Bowling is soon to issue her arrangements of Phish’s “Chicago Wedge” (July 20, 2014) and “Glens Falls Twist” (Oct. 23, 2013) on vinyl.

    Holly Bowling Vinyl Release

    Bowling released her debut album Distillation Of A Dream: The Music Of Phish Reimagined For Solo Piano through Royal Potato Family last year, which featured a reimagining of the Vermont quartet’s “Lake Tahoe Tweezer” (July 31, 2013) that Bowling has also issued on vinyl. The latest vinyl compilation will be a companion to continue the series of her piano “jam transcriptions,” and is pressed on 150-gram red transparent vinyl with album artwork from a linocut Isadora Bullock print. Only a 500 limited-edition run is available; copies can be picked up here, or for those heading west for Phish’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium shows, Bowling will host a record release party at PhanArt’s San PhranArt Show on Tues., July 19 at Mezzanine.

    Here’s what Bowling shared about her second record via Facebook:

    Catch Bowling at Twiddle’s Tumble Down in Burlington, VT, July 29 and 30, and at the Night Lights Music Fest in Sherman, NY, on Aug. 27, before she heads to the southeast. And watch as Bowling walks viewers through her “jam transcription” process for the “Chicago Wedge” in the video below:

  • Houston Police Arrest 130 in Gear Theft Ring

    Rock Feed reports that the Houston Police Department has announced the arrest of 130 individuals in connection to a massive band gear theft ring that has been going on for over a year. The crime ring would steal vans and trailers filled with expensive equipment of touring musicians. Among those arrested, some were gang members, while some of the suspects have lengthy rap sheets, with a long criminal history.

    An extensive undercover investigation by law enforcement led to the massive amount of arrest. In a recent press conference, authorities said that more arrests are imminent in the coming weeks. The 130 person arrest has resulted in over 200 charges filed, while recovering almost two million dollars in stolen goods. Criminals would avoid pawn shops and use word of mouth to sell items on the black market. Some of the goods would even be transferred to Mexico.

    The Houston P.D. said that the thieves would also target and score big ticket items fast, including motorcycles, which one business lots its entire lot overnight. The ring would use concert venues as a hot spot for such items, as it was easy to steal large quantities of merchandise, quickly.

    Lt. Mike Osina of the Houston P.D. said, “These thieves were stealing anything and everything they could put their hands on. They went after trailers they saw parked on the streets of Greater Houston.”

    Captain Edwards of the Houston P.D. stated,

    “To date the amount of property recovered is estimated to be upwards of 2 million dollars. In the course of this past year, this collaborative effort, through cooperation and communication, flexibility and a focused work ethic has led to the dismantling of this criminal enterprise.”

    In May of 2015, country singer Zane Williams, had his van and trailer stolen, losing a 100 year old violin in the theft. Earlier this year, Americana rockers the Black Lillies, had their van and trailer stolen, leaving the band stranded in Houston with no way back to their hometown in Tennessee.

  • Hollywood Vampire Joe Perry Collapses During Show

    Sunday evening provided a scare to members of the rock collective Hollywood Vampires and its fans at the Ford Amphitheater at Brooklyn’s Coney Island. Shortly into the band’s set, Joe Perry, long time Aerosmith guitarist, began to feel dizzy and sat down on the drum riser.  Moving off to side stage he collapsed and was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital.

    Continuing with the show, the band was unaware of his condition and wished their friend and colleague well in unison with fans.

    Keeping up with his progress through social media, he is currently “stable and resting” at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

    With a full schedule still up in the air, Alice Cooper has kept fans updated through social media posts and for the time being, the show must go on.

    Hollywood Vampires 2016 Tour Dates

    July 12 Kettering Fraze Pavilion, OH
    July 13 Mount Pleasant Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, MI
    July 14 Cadott Rock Fest, WI
    July 16 Clarkston DTE Energy Music Theatre, MI
    July 18 Fargo Scheels Arena, ND
    July 22 Rohnert Park Green Music Center, CA
    July 23 Jacksonville Brtt Festival Pavilion, OR
    July 24 Saratoga Mountain Winery, CA
    July 25 Paso Robles California Mid-State Fair, CA

  • UPDATE: Missing Connecticut Man’s Car Located, Deceased Body Found Inside

    One week after disappearing en route to a Phish show at SPAC, the family of Jason Czech has revealed that police have located his car in Meriden, Connecticut according to a report by WTEN in Albany.

    A deceased body was found inside the car but the identity of the deceased has not been officially determined.  A post in the Facebook group Remembering Jason Czech from someone appearing to be a family member, has confirmed that the body found in the car Friday night is Czech.

    Jason Czech of Branford, Connecticut has gone missing while headed to Phish at SPAC this past Saturday, July 2. His family have not had contact with him since his departure on July 1.

    Czech was supposed to meet a friend at SPAC for the show. However, soon before it was set to begin, Czech texted that he was not going to make it. He was last seen on camera at a bar in Hartford, Connecticut. Family reported him missing on Monday, July 4.

    No one meeting Czech’s description has yet been found in any local hospitals. There has also been no trace of his car.

    A Facebook group titled Find Jason Czech has since been created, seeking more information and with the intent of developing a timeline surrounding Czech’s disappearance. It can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/findjasonczech/. While his whereabouts are still unknown, there is some speculation that he may be have been planning to attend future Phish dates in Hartford or Mansfield.

    Czech is described as 6-foot-2 and weighs 240 pounds. He has green eyes and red hair, and drives a Honda Accord with Connecticut license plate 865-SJE.

    Brandford, Connecticut’s police crime tip line can be called anonymously with any information at 203-315-3909.

  • Primus Drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander Suffers Second Heart Attack

    In 2014, Primus drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander suffered a heart attack, resulting in Tool drummer Danny Carey filling in for several dates Primus had scheduled for a tour with its classic lineup while Alexander recovered.

    Tim AlexanderSaturday, Alexander revealed via his Instagram, that he recently had another heart attack:

    Alexander is currently home and resting according to a follow-up Instagram post Saturday. Primus is next scheduled to play festival dates at Joshua Tree and Sacramento in October.

    Primus played Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown last summer on a tour with Dinosaur, Jr. and Sean Lennon’s Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, a tour that led to the recent Claypool Lennon Delirium album and tour. Below is a fan-shot video of “Southbound Pachyderm” complete with fireworks display.

  • Phish “Friends” Premieres at The Mann, Fishman shares Lyrics

    Phish premiered a new song, “Friends” from Syracuse’s favorite drummer, Jon Fishman on June 29 at the Mann in Philadelphia. Fishman posted the lyrics in the comments of a fan’s (Peter Banta) Facebook post earlier today.

    The band kicked off a three-night run at Saratoga Performing Arts Center Friday night, which included another debut, “Let’s Go.” NYS Music is on site and will have a full wrap up of the SPAC run.

    NYS Music loves new songs as much as other dedicated fans. Share your thoughts on this, and other premieres on this tour.

    Friends, by Jon Fishman

    Friends,
    If the lord ever comes

    descending from the skies in some fiery fashion
    as so many say he will
    You will not see me
    going joyously to greet him expecting my deliverance,
    but running for the hills
    For if such a day should come to pass
    this is no God come to save the human race,
    but a big boat
    like the ones our forefathers sailed
    having made it across the great ocean to our shores
    from outer space.
    And friends
    when that boat finally comes
    ascending from the depths of our imagination
    to appear within our sight
    We’ll be born again
    as we’ve been so many times all throughout the ages when we find that we’re not right,
    and with darkness lifted from our eyes, then we’ll find what should come as no surprise…
    We’re on a big boat like the ones our forefathers sailed
    headed across the great ocean from our shores to outer space

  • Tom Petty Has Fans on the Edge of Their Wildflowers

    In 1994 Tom Petty released Wildflowers, a staple album from the time period and still to this day. Originally it was conceptualized as a double album. Petty is now considering performing Wildflowers the way it was originally intended to be heard.

    Kelli_Marsh_Tom_Petty-1001

    He recently sat with Rolling Stone for an interview and talked about how he’d like to regroup the Heartbreakers to play Wildflowers in 2017.

    After 20 plus years fans are still eagerly waiting for an expanded version of Wildflowers. Petty has released some outtakes from sessions on the soundtrack She`s The One that came out in 1996. “I think I put four of the [Wildflowers outtakes] on the She’s The One soundtrack just to fill out the album,” Petty explained.

    Tom Petty has been against full album performances in the past but recently he’s changed his tune. “I’ve changed my mind because nobody has ever done something like this where you’re previewing the second part of a never-released album,” Petty revealed. “How often does that happen? It’s old and new at the same time.”

    As for now there are no Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers dates booked as the rocker focuses on Mudcrutch. In the meantime, Petty fans can look forward to the possibility of an expanded release of his 1995 classic with a tour to hopefully follow.

  • Phish Releases Live Bait Vol. 12

    Live Bait Vol. 12 is a ten track collection of treasured Phish tracks released to help phans survive the building anticipation before Summer Tour 2016, which kicked off Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. It is a tradition that archivist Kevin Shapiro has kept going for years, each one featuring tracks from the cities that the group will hit on its tour.

    Live-Bait-12-full

    This year’s edition has an especially notable, almost 30 minute long, “Mike’s Song> Simple> Mike’s Song> Tela> Weekapaug Groove” from Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse on Nov. 4, 1994; as well as, “Piper>Gotta Jibboo” from SPAC on June 19, 2004, which is a little over 40 minutes long. In fact, every track is in the double digits in length on this volume.

    With the exception of “Mercury” (2015), which was recorded by Jon Altschiller, the other nine tracks were recorded by Paul Languedoc.

    Phish is doing a three-night run at the SPAC this summer starting on July 1, and will later hit Syracuse on July 10 at the Lakeview Amphitheater.

    You can download the album live here or stream it via the LivePhish+ App.

    Phish Live Bait Vol. 12

    • Reba (1995-10-25 Civic Center Arena – St. Paul, MN)
    • Split Open And Melt (1997-08-10 Deer Creek Music Center – Noblesville, IN)
    • Piper > Gotta Jibboo (2004-06-19 Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY)
    • Stash (1993-07-24 Great Woods Performing Arts Center – Mansfield, MA)
    • Ghost (2000-07-01 Meadows Music Theatre – Hartford, CT)
    • Mike’s Song > Simple > Mike’s Song > Tela > Weekapaug Groove (1994-11-04 Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium – Syracuse, NY)
    • Foam (1997-08-03 Gorge Amphitheatre – George, WA)
    • Bathtub Gin (2003-02-14 Great Western Forum – Inglewood, CA)
    • Tweezer (1999-09-18 Coors Amphitheatre – Chula Vista, CA)
    • Mercury (2015-09-05 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO)

  • Mockingbird Foundation Releases Third Edition of ‘The Phish Companion’

    The Mockingbird Foundation and Phish.net have released a third edition of The Phish Companion: A Guide To The Music & Their Music. The companion is an invaluable guide to the band’s history, show reviews, fan art, original photos and tour capsules.

    the phish companionThe eight chapter, 898 page hardcover book is filled with full-color pages capturing 33 years of Phish history. It includes art by some of the most esteemed Phish poster artists, such as AJ Masthay, David Welker and Justin Helton.

    The Mockingbird Foundation has said that if the first two editions were like trusty, sturdy Subarus that could get you around reliably, then the third edition is “Doc Brown’s DeLorean” time-machine.

    The book is available for purchase on the Phish Companion website. It will also be available for public sale outside of the website for the first time at the June 25 PhanArt show at the Cubby Bear in Chicago.

    All proceeds from the Mockingbird Foundation go to benefit music education for children, and the foundation has raised nearly $1 million for the cause.