NYS Music 20​16

Category: News Desk

  • Update: Catskill Chill Third Wave Announced

    Catskill Chill Festival has announced the third wave lineup. Joining the festival are Lettuce; some members of the band including Eric Bloom, Adam Deitch, Ryan Zoidis, Nigel Hall, Adam Smirnoff and Erick Coomes will also perform with Borahm Lee in “Bitches Bloom: A Tribute to Miles Davis.”

    Catskill Chill will feature a special performance by Reed Mathis & Electric Beethoven, which includes heavy hitting musicians Reed Mathis (Billy & the Kids, Tea Leaf Green), Jay Lane (Primus, Ratdog), Todd Stoops (RAQ), Cochrane McMillan (Tea Leaf Green) and Clay Welch. A 10-piece soul/funk band Funky Dawgz Brass Band completes this line-up.

    Chill
    Updated 6/9/16:

    Catskill Chill Music Festival released the second phase of 2016’s lineup, featuring a packed bill of diverse artists like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Electron, Turkuaz, Cabinet, Formula 5 and Space Jesus. The seventh annual September event is throwing in a few new surprises, too, including a Thursday night pre-party.

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    To kick off the first time at New Minglewood, Chill is hosting an onsite pre-party the night before the festival begins that will feature two sets of Twidde, along with music from Jimkata, Aqueous and Trakstar. And teaming up for collaborative tributes are Dopapod and Turkuaz as Dopakuaz Does Yacht Rock, and Pink Talking Phish and Kung Fu will cover the music of Prince and David Bowie, while Particle and the Werks will play as PartiWerks, plus a Chillfam Allstars Thriller Tribute.

    Catskill Chill Music Festival tickets and cabins are still available, and discounted early bird ticketing has been extended to Friday, June 10. See the full 2016 lineup below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpTBXRQhsJg

    Catskill Chill 2016 Lineup:

    Mike Gordon
    George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic*
    Greensky Bluegrass
    Electron*
    Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass
    Break Science Live Band and Duo Sets
    Dopapod
    Goldfish
    Perpetual Groove
    Deep Banana Blackout
    Rob Garza DJ Set*
    Turkuaz*
    Kung Fu
    The Werks
    Cabinet*
    Particle
    Zach Deputy
    Ryan Montbleau
    Orgone
    The Nth Power
    The Main Squeeze
    Pink Talking Fish
    Tauk
    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
    Space Jesus*
    Roosevelt Collier’s NY Get Down
    Tom Hamilton’s American Babies
    The Heavy Pets Tribute to the ‘80s
    Gibbz*
    Jen Durkin & The Business*
    G-Nome Project
    Big Something
    Scott Pemberton
    Elise Testone’s Zeppelin Tribute
    The Magic Beans
    Danny Mayer Trio
    Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan
    The Indobox
    Lespecial Primus Tribute
    The Primate Fiasco
    Hayley Jane and The Primates
    The Jauntee*
    West End Blend
    Shwizz
    Fikus
    ShwiKus
    Out of the Beardspace
    Turbine plays Radio Dead*
    Mister F
    Strange Machines*
    Broccoli Samurai
    Relative Souls*
    The Breakneck Boys
    Formula 5*
    Youth Posse
    Animal Reporters

    Collaborations:
    Dopakuaz Does Yacht Rock*
    Pink Talking Fu: Prince Bowie*
    PartiWerks = Particle + The Werks*
    Chillfam Allstars Thriller Tribute*

    Pre-Party:
    Twiddle (2 sets)*
    Jimkata*
    Aqueous*
    TRAKSTAR*

    *phase 2 artist

    Original post:

    This afternoon, the Catskill Chill Music Festival released the initial lineup for its seventh-annual event happening Sept. 23 through 25. Artists scheduled to headline are Mike Gordon, Greensky Bluegrass and Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass.

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    Other acts sharing this year’s festival bill include Break Science, Dopapod, Goldfish, Perpetual Groove, the Werks, Kung Fu, Deep Banana Blackout, Particle, Zach Deputy, Ryan Montbleau, Pink Talking Fish, Tauk, Hayley Jane and the Primates, Mister F and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Tributes for Chill 2016 are an ’80s-themed show by the Heavy Pets, Elise Testone’s Zeppelin Tribute and Lespecial Primus Tribute.

    Past lineups have featured notable groups including Particle, moe., Yonder Mountain String Band, Lotus, the New Deal, Keller Williams, Lettuce, Umphrey’s McGee and Galactic.

    In February, festival organizers announced a venue change from the summer camp in Hancock to New Minglewood in Lakewood, Pennsylvania, but noted that the Chillfam can expect similar amenities including rental cabins, lakefront setting, free parking and camping, plus indoor movie theaters, yoga, art and wellness workshops and an outdoor main stage.

    The campground opens at 9 a.m. on Friday and will close at 1 p.m. on Monday. More festival guidelines can be found here. Tickets are on sale now through the event website; details on VIP and RV packages are coming soon. And as Neil Benjamin Jr. noted in his coverage of the Catskill Chills of summer’s past, “It’s an experience that cannot be recreated anywhere else.”

  • In Focus: The New Mastersounds and Moon Hooch, Higher Ground

    The New Mastersounds and Moon Hooch layed out their deep and funky grooves for the crowded Burlington scene, at Higher Ground Ballroom on April 22nd. TNMS consists of Simon Allen on drums, Eddie Roberts on guitar, Pete Shand on bass and Joe Tatton on keys.

    new mastersounds moon hoochMoon Hooch opened up the night, riling up the crowd with their wild stirring of energy-their presence far exceeding any opener I’ve ever seen. Wenzl McGowen played what seemed to be a non-stop flow of contrabass clarinet, as well as baritone saxophone-along with Mike Wilbur on tenor saxophone and clarinet-dueling at points, as they are known to do. James Muschler on drums, maintained a strong presence throughout the entire show, steadily anchoring the rhythm. At one point he made his way to the corner of the drum-kit stage, to sit and play a very special and beautiful set of bongos. Just when no one was expecting it, Wilbur began belting out lyrics that were enough to shake the ground-the sentiments were shedding light on the truth of current political and environmental issues.

    They took over the stage, by the end leaving the crowd wondering if they were the main act. These guys have been building momentum for some time now, and seem to be focusing their energy towards a conscious revolution through their music. Not only do they put on a show that will leave you wanting for more, but they also share their philosophical beliefs, as well as sustainable cooking advice (“Cooking in the Cave”, see their website). If you haven’t experienced Moon Hooch yet, they are one that you absolutely do not want to miss if you get the chance-it’s sure to be a unique and mind-opening experience. In reference to their sound:

    “Listening to this music, it’s easy to become emotionally invested….the emotional impact on both the musicians and their fans is visceral and undeniable.” –www.moonhooch.com

    Once Moon Hooch finished the transition of the atmosphere from their incredible performance, to the anticipation of The New Mastersounds taking the stage, was quite clear. The energy was so strong, I could feel it pulsating in the air.

    Starting off on a high note, these four kept the crowds energy rising with their sound, forming a wave of dancing fans from the beginning of the show until the close of the evening. They played with ease, collectively moving in and out from one soulful tune to the next. The vibe they created was effortlessly smooth, funky and rhythmic. Halfway through, Shand dropped a bass-line with a reggae feel to it, with Roberts following it to transform it into a funky flow, transitioning back and forth. It was at this point that Allen really started wailing on his drums, in turn pushing Tatton to speed it up-to then slow it back down to the rock-steady feel. Through this weaving of complex movement, it was obvious to see that these guys have a chemistry that reverberates through their entire composition as a group.

    You’ll find them playing shows all over the U.S. this year-from the south, to the west coast, and as far as Japan. They’ll be making a few stops in N.Y. towards the close of May and the early part of June, and popping up at well known festivals this coming summer such as Summer Camp Music Festival: Chillicothe, IL, Mountain Jam 2016: Hunter Mountain, NY, and Electric Forest: Rothbury, MI, just to name a few.

    A little tidbit about their style:

    “From their inception nearly two decades ago in Leeds, UK, The New Mastersounds have wholeheartedly embraced the “old school” label—their sound rooted deeply in those classic soul jazz, boogaloo and funk albums on labels such as Blue Note and Prestige by artists like Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Lou Donaldson. The New Mastersounds’ latest LP, The Nashville Session, takes that devotion one step further by recording in the same tradition that many of those rare groove gems were made“

    “The New Mastersounds are at the very top of an elite selection of acts that bring the true soul out of funk.” www.newmastersounds.com

    The pairing of The New Mastersounds and Moon Hooch was genius-two incredible groups, bringing distinctly different, yet equally enticing and skillful performances to the table.

  • Five Finger Death Punch Being Sued By Record Label

    According to a recent report by Blabbermouth, metal rockers Five Finger Death Punch are being sued by their record label Prospect Park for breach of contract. Prospect Park claims that the band is trying to cash in before their bandmate, frontman Ivan Moody, does something stupid or even dies. Moody is accused of being addicted to alcohol, and some worry that if things end in a train wreck, Five Finger Death Punch’s music catalog would end up worthless.

    Five Finger Death Punch. Photo by Jim 'JT' Gilbert / JTGphoto.com

    Five Finger Death Punch signed a four-album contract with Prospect Park in December 2012. The contract states that the band could not record any new material earlier than nine months after its latest release, unless the label agrees to it in writing. The band’s third studio album under contract, Got Your Six, was released Sept. 4, 2015. That means the band can’t start “any portion” of the new album in the agreement until June 4, 2016.

    Also under the agreement, the band is under contract to release two masters for a greatest hits album. The band refused to deliver the masters out of concern from Moody, and members plan on recording the greatest hits album on a new record label. Part of Prospect Park’s lawsuit states:

    Regrettably, with the encouragement and assistance of their entertainment lawyer and business manager, the members of FFDP have unequivocally repudiated their contractual obligations to permit Prospect Park to determine the recording elements of a new record and a greatest hits record. In doing so, the members of FFDP are shamelessly attempting to cash in before the anticipated downfall of their addicted bandmate.

    Prospect Park blames the band for rushing to record the fourth album that they are contracted to, disregarding the health and safety of Moody and ultimately destroying the band in the process. The record label says that the band has reached out numerous times with concern about Moody’s addiction getting out of control and fear he may not be there to fulfill his obligations to the band and the contract, thus seeking to capitalize as soon as possible at the expense of Moody’s health.

    Prospect Park also stated in the lawsuit, “Based on FFDP’s own assessment, Moody is unable to perform at the level required under Section 3.01 of the Recording Agreement for delivery of the Fourth Album’s master recordings or Greatest Hits Masters.”

    The lawsuit lists numerous text messages and emails from FFDP band members and represenatives. A message on Nov. 15, 2015 reads, “The writing is on the wall, and that, it’s a matter of time before Ivan hits the wall — and once he does — it will be too late to sell.” In an email received on Dec 3, 2015, band members wrote, “if Ivan does something stupid — dies…., goes away to jail — then the catalog is a bust — then we won’t be able to sell and we’ll be trying to salvage what we can — IF we can … so to me it’s imperative to make a move and sell.” One message even says that Moody is getting in the way of an eight-digit payday.

    The label states in the lawsuit some of the reasons why they want control over the recording elements. Some of those reasons include a precipitous decline in sales, the fact that radio has told the label that the band’s sound is getting “stale” and the disappointment that the band has failed to reach Platinum or Multi-Platinum level.

    During a show in Memphis in May 2015, Moody was accused of having an onstage meltdown, and some fans even thought the band split up as the rest of the band left Moody on the stage by himself after he made a remark about drummer Jeremy Spencer’s book. Spencer left the stage first and the rest of the band slowly followed. Moody soon after that released a statement blaming technical difficulties, and saying the band was in good standing with each other.

    At the end of March 2016, Moody was hospitalized, forcing the band to cancel their Australian tour, and a gig as a supporting act for Black Sabbath’s final run. Moody was admitted to the ER in his hometown of Denver and was said to make a full recovery. The band has recently notified Prospect Park that Moody is in an in-patient rehabilitation facility for an unknown duration of time.

    Five Finger Death Punch is slated to play many of the major rock festivals this May including headlining the opening night at the first-ever Rock’N Derby in Schaghticoke on May 20. The band days ago confirmed a fall tour with Shinedown and Sixx: A.M., and a coast-to-coast tour of Canada with Papa Roach and Sixx: A.M.

  • MTV Rebooting “Unplugged”

    MTV’s once-popular live performance show “Unplugged,” which featured bands playing intimate and acoustic sets, is making a comeback on the station once known for its innovations in music broadcasting and promoting.

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    The show premiered with little fanfare late in 1989 with a performance by Squeeze. It slowly picked up steam and eventually started landing acts like Sinead O’Connor, Aerosmith and 10,000 Maniacs. It became a full-on phenomenon after a second-season performance by Paul McCartney that was released as a hugely popular album.

    The show then became a regular stop for contemporary acts like Nirvana and R.E.M., as well as musicians like Eric Clapton and Tony Bennett who were looking to reconnect with a younger audience. The show spawned many live recordings that sold millions of copies, turning “Unplugged” into a brand with a life of its own.

    A press release from MTV announced recently that the station would be revitalizing “Unplugged,” keeping much of what made it such a success in the ’90s. “Live performances are the beating heart of every episode and this show will provide a platform for artists to experiment with the unexpected, express their creativity in new ways and deliver one-off performances that will become inked in the public consciousness,” the release notes.

    With the popularity of new folk and Americana acts hitting fever pitch, the show should have plenty of material to keep the schedule full. Exact details of the launch have not yet been divulged, but we will update you here once more is known.

    https://youtu.be/WPH0Ag1jerc

  • Buckethead Has Returned: Westcott Theater Performance Coming May 3

    After four long years of waiting, fans of Buckethead finally have the chance to see him live once again. The man who sports the white mask and bucket on his head is coming to the Westcott Theater this Tuesday, May 3. Tickets are on sale for $25 and are available at the door.

    bucketheadFor those who may not know who Buckethead is, he’s a guitarist who can practically play anything. Buckethead is a guitar virtuoso who covers many different genres including metal, funk, classical and more. Starting in the late ’80s and learning from the great Paul Gilbert, Buckethead has been attached to his guitar ever since. Bucket’s first solo album, Bucketheadland, came out in 1992, and that’s where the journey began.

    Since 1992, Buckethead has released 264 studio albums. The lineup of musicians that Bucket has worked with is extensive as well. That list includes Bootsy Collins, Iggy Pop, Les Claypool, Serj Tankian of System of a Down, Mike Patton and many more. Buckethead was also the lead guitar player for Guns N’ Roses from 2000 to 2004. The long-awaited Guns N’ Roses album Chinese Democracy features Buckethead on all but two tracks.

    Not only does Buckethead play guitar, but he is also a fantastic bass player, a talent which he displays at his live shows as well. Watching Buckethead play live will certainly leave everyone in the audience in a daze. For those who think watching a guy play guitar for over an hour straight may be boring, Buckethead will certainly prove them wrong. Complete with dance moves, nunchucks and toy giveaways, Tuesday’s show is sure to be one to remember from Buckethead.

    Although his official website hasn’t been updated, Buckethead has an entire tour planned for the next few months. For those interested in seeing Bucket’s show, the Westcott Theater is the only place to see him in New York except for his show at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on May 7. The rest of the dates can be found at this link.

    To purchase tickets to the show this Tuesday, visit the Westcott Theater website.

  • Falling Stars Fest at Boathouse Beer Garden

    Boathouse Beer Garden will host the Falling Stars Fest on Thursday, June 30.

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    The Boathouse Beer Garden in Romulus is hosting the Falling Stars Fest, which features New Riders of the Purple Sage, Terrapin Flyer and Evil City String Band.

    New Riders of the Purple Sage formed in the ’60s with Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead and Spencer Dryden of Jefferson Airplane as part of the band. They are seen as one of the pioneers of the country rock sound that took hold in the late ’60s with bands and artists like Bob Dylan, the Band and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Having retired in 1997, they reunited briefly in 2001 and were honored with a lifetime achievement award from High Times magazine. The band reunited with original members Buddy Cage and Dave Nelson in 2005 and have released two studio albums and a live album since the reunion.

    Terrapin Flyer consists of Melvin Seals, a longtime member of the Jerry Garcia Band; Tom Constanten, former keyboardist for the Grateful Dead from 1968-70; and Mark Karan, a longtime member of Ratdog and guitarist for the Other Ones on their 1998 and 2000 tours.

    The Evil City String Band is an old-time Appalachian string band from Ithaca.

    Falling Star Fest starts at 6:30 p.m. June 30. Tickets are on sale now at an early bird rate of $25 through June 1, when they increase to $30. Tickets bought at the door will be $35.

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwrqcQuZrTQ[/embedyt]

  • Squirrel Nut Zippers Return to the Road

    The ’90s-nostalgia boomlet has revived yet another decade-defining sound — juke-y, jive-y, neo-swing. This summer the Squirrel Nut Zippers will resurface for a seven-date tour.

    Announced yesterday via the band’s Facebook page, the tour kicks off on June 29 in Tucson, Arizona, and currently caps with an appearance at the LEAF Festival in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The closest the Zippers will come to New York state is Virginia; but hang tight, swing kids, as fall shows are in the works.

    The Chapel Hill, North Carolina, band made noise with the release of their second album, Hot, in 1996, (featuring the chart-topping hit “Hell”), and in honor of the 20th anniversary of this commercial success, the Zippers decided to return to the road. For this limited run, founding members James “Jimbo” Mathus and Chris Phillips recruited the talent of singer Ingrid Lucia (Flying Neutrino) and noted New Orleans musicians to join the new stage show. Phillips commented on the band’s reunion in the statement:

    The band has been quiet for long enough. Honestly, the songs from such a unique and rambunctious catalog never get old on stage. When it was brought to my attention that 2016 was the 20th anniversary of Hot I knew the timing was right. We take great pleasure in the sense of togetherness we maintain with audiences that have such a wide age range — from young to old and those in between. Even the old are young at heart when they are at a Squirrel Nut Zippers show…

    In other words, press your zoot suits, and get ready for a blast from the past. Most tickets are on sale now through the venue box offices or online; see the full set of tour dates below.

    Squirrel Nut Zippers tour dates:

    6/29 – Rialto – Tucson, AZ
    6/30 – Marquee – Tempe, AZ
    7/1 – Orpheum – Flagstaff, AZ
    7/3 – Deer Valley Resort – Park City, UT
    9/3 – Sausalito Arts Festival – Sausalito, CA
    10/18 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
    10/23 – LEAF Festival – Black Mountain, NC

  • Tony Markellis Spring Schedule

    Bassist Tony Markellis keeps himself quite busy this spring when he is not touring with the Trey Anastasio Band. He is scheduled to play a number of shows throughout New York and nearby this spring.

    tony markellis springMarkellis, of Saratoga Springs, recently joined Floodwood, the bluegrass side project of moe.’s Vinnie Amico. He’ll join them at many shows throughout New York, starting this week. He also plays with a variety of other musicians in the area and can be seen throughout New York, primarily in the Capital Region.

    He joins Grateful Dead tribute band Dead Set on May 20 at the Westcott in Syracuse. He will also be at Summer Camp Music Festival with Floodwood. His full set of dates can be seen below.

    Tony Markellis spring dates:
    Thursday 4/28 – Floodwood – Nectar’s, Burlington, VT
    Friday 4/29 – Floodwood – The Hollow, Albany, NY
    Saturday 4/30 – Floodwood – Garcia’s, Port Chester, NY
    Sunday 5/1 – Caffè Lena Folkathon Benefit with Jo Henley (3:30 p.m.), Michael Jerling (7:45 p.m.), New Standard (8:30 p.m.) – Saratoga Springs, NY
    Thursday 5/12 – Floodwood – NaNola, Malta, NY (9 p.m.)
    Friday 5/13 – Melick, Maul & Markellis – First Reformed Church, Selkirk, NY
    Saturday 5/14 – Jeanne O’Connor and the New Standard – One Caroline, Saratoga Springs, NY (9 p.m.)
    Wednesday 5/18 – Michael Jerling – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7 p.m.)
    Thursday 5/19 – Floodwood – Abilene, Rochester, NY (9 p.m.)
    Friday 5/20 – Dead Set – Westcott, Syracuse, NY
    Saturday 5/21 – Jay Barady & Nick Piccinnini – Oneonta Theater, Oneonta, NY
    Wednesday 5/25 – Jo Henley Trio – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7 p.m.)
    Thurs-Sun 5/26-29 – Floodwood – Summer Camp Festival, Chillicothe, IL
    Wednesday 6/1 – Jeanne O’Connor Trio – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7 p.m.)
    Thursday 6/2 – Floodwood – Outer Space, Hamden, CT
    Friday 6/3 –Floodwood – Smoke Signals, Lake Placid, NY
    Saturday 6/4 – Floodwood – Taste of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY (7 p.m.)
    Wednesday 6/8 – Bob Warren – Little Theater on the Farm, Ft. Edward, NY
    Thursday 6/9 – Floodwood – NaNola, Malta, NY (9 p.m.)

  • Slick Rick Becomes a U.S. Citizen

    English-born rapper and long-time Bronx resident Ricky “Slick Rick” Martin Lloyd Walters became an American citizen last week in New York after a protracted 23-year battle.

    slick rick tourIn a statement, Walters said:

    I am so proud of this moment – and so honored to finally become an American citizen. This has been a long time coming for me, and I am relieved to finally put this long chapter behind me. I want to thank everyone – my family, friends and fans – who have supported me and stuck by me over these 23 years. I am truly blessed – and stay tuned, I will have more to announce soon.

    The rapper rose to fame in the early 1990s on the strength of his storytelling style of rap exhibited on his Def Jam debut The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. The album featured some of Walters’ biggest hits including, “Children’s Story,” “Teenage Love” and “Hey Young World.”

    Walters moved to the Bronx from London when he was 11 years old. He quickly became immersed in the hip-hop culture and joined Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew as MC Ricky D soon after finishing high school.

    The legal battle behind his citizenship began in 1990 when he was sentenced to prison for the self-defense shooting of his cousin, who had been hired and subsequently fired as his bodyguard. A bystander was also injured in the incident. Walters spent five years in prison on charges of attempted murder and residency issues with Immigration and Naturalization Services.

    When released from prison, Walters was threatened with deportation, spending several years in and out of prison. New York Gov. David Paterson granted Walters a full pardon in 2008, clearing the path to citizenship.

    Walters has been credited as the most successful British-American rapper and also one of the genre’s most sampled artists. He has collaborated with Jay Z, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot and Outkast.

    Walters has dedicated much of his time to mentoring youth and raising funds for issues impacting under-served communities.

    Slick Rick embarks on a short spring tour throughout the Midwest and Southeast on May 7. Dates can be found on his website.

  • Pop Icon Prince Died at 57

    Pop icon and acclaimed musician Prince has died at the age of 57 at his home in Minnesota.

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    Police were called to his Paisley Park estate earlier today. According to several media outlets, an investigation is pending.  Last week, Prince was rushed to the hospital several hours after a performance but was released after doctors cleared him with flu symptoms. There are no reports that the two incidents are related.

    Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson, was a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor and arranger. He recorded more than 30 albums and sold more than 100 million records during his career. He became a worldwide superstar in the 1980s with multiple hits including “1999,” “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry.” In 2004, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

    The superstar recently released a pair of albums and launched a tour called Piano & A Microphone. He performed live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta last week.

    The news was first reported by TMZ and confirmed by the Associated Press.

    https://youtu.be/7NN3gsSf-Ys