NYS Music 20​16

Category: News Desk

  • CashorTrade.org Breaks the Internet

    CashorTrade.org announced some new features on their site that will help posts gain exposures through social media.

    As part of their efforts to help users buy, sell or trade tickets for concerts, CashorTrade.org incorporated some new features into their site that are meant to increase exposure for the posts. As part of these efforts, the team created new groups on Facebook and Twitter for every state in the U.S. along with groups for each of the artists, bands and festivals represented on the site. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, CashorTrade.org has expanded to their own sub-Reddit to increase exposure to the face value movement. When posts are made searching for, selling, or trading tickets for various events, they will be automatically posted to the respective social media group on all platforms based on the artist or festival and the location of the event.

    To help maintain all the newly created groups, CashorTrade.org is looking for ambassadors to help promote and grow the various groups. To help users request information on becoming an ambassador or to join the various groups, they created an Exposure page with all the information regarding their new efforts and links to the individual social media groups.

    CashorTrade.org is the leading secondary marketplace for fans to buy, sell or trade tickets to concerts at face value. Since the site’s creation in 2009, the community has grown to nearly 250,000 users.

    New York State Music is one of CashorTrade.org’s partner sites.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3kpeoeNDXo

  • DATSIK Is Bringing His Robotic Funky Sounds Back To The Queen City

    Troy Beetles, the Canadian born DJ / Producer better known as DATSIK will be in the Queen City of Buffalo April 7th.

    datsik queenIf you were wondering where his stage name is derived from, it comes from his XBOX gamer tag. Since hitting the Dubstep scene in 2008 he has steadily been a force to be reckoned with. In 2009 alone he had 7 number one releases on Beatport. In 2012 his debut album Vitamin D was released. That same year he started his own record label, Firepower Records.

    DATSIK has collaborated with huge names in the music business such as The Crystal Method, Diplo, Jonathan Davis (Korn) and Method Man. He has performed with artists of the likes of Steve Aoki, Nero, Rusko, and Bassnectar. Datsik has played venues all across the world and at festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, Electric Zoo, Ultra Music Festival and Coachella. He will be bringing his self described dark, robotic, funky and gangster sounds to the Town Ballroom Thursday April 7th.

    Show starts at 8 and is sold out.

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

  • The New Mastersounds to Headline 3-Night Weekend at Brooklyn Bowl

    The New Mastersounds have a simple mission: create and share an ebullient energy with a receptive audience. They’ve been accomplishing this swimmingly with their bouncy, funky instrumental grooves for a decade. New York City will have its chance to get down New Mastersounds-style for three consecutive nights at Brooklyn Bowl on April 14-16.

    In the UK where there are no John Scofields or Galactics to create a rich jazz-funk jam tapestry, The New Mastersounds started out as a band filling that void with free reign. Nowadays they run widely in the US festival circuit and collaborate with Mike Dillon, Grace Potter, Maceo Parker and Art Neville. Their music is fast and relentlessly euphoric.

    The Saturday date at Brooklyn Bowl will also include an afternoon family show for all ages beginning at noon, in addition to the show that evening. The matinee appearance has become a tradition for the band over their last two appearances in Brooklyn. The New Mastersounds first appeared at the Bowl in 2010, and three-night runs have occurred there at least once yearly since 2013. New York funk fans are doubtless hungry to have them back.

    Brooklyn’s own Moon Hooch will support The New Mastersounds on Thursday, April 14. Their primitive dance music played in sax-sax-drums power trio format is sophisticated and provocative. In a league with other contemporary artists who blur the line between live acoustic performance and sleek electronica production, Moon Hooch have an unprecedented sound and an attitude that’s always carrying them into new musical territory. Aficionados will want to be there at 8 PM when they get the party started at Brooklyn Bowl, kicking off a three-night weekend with The New Mastersounds.

  • Thursdays at Funk n Waffles, Presented by NYS Music

    NYS Music is once again proud to host Thursday nights at Funk n Waffles in April. A stellar lineup of music is on tap across multiple genres.

    Thursday April 7 MISTER F and THE HEAVY PETS

    Formed in 2013 from members of Northeast regional acts Timbre Coup and Capital Zen, Mister F is an eclectic, high-energy 4-piece band that takes a no-holds-barred approach to blending genres while keeping your feet moving. The members of Mister F are no strangers to the music community.  Their first show on March 1, 2013 was so well-received that they’ve taken their show on the road to cities as far as Denver, CO and Atlanta, GA and are even performing with their previous bands at festivals such as Mountain Jam, Summer Camp, Camp Bisco, moe.down, and snoe.down.

    The Heavy Pets are an American rock band that blends rhythm & blues, jazz, funk, disco and reggae with rock & roll. Called “A living, breathing force of nature,” by Relix Magazine, the Pets are known for their soulful songcraft and powerhouse live performances. Riding high on the success of their most recent studio effort, Two Horses, look out for The Heavy Pets as they continue to hit the road hard.

    Thursday April 14 ROOT SHOCK and THE CORNERSTONE

    Formed in the winter of 2012 by regional veteran musicians, Root SHOCK blends roots reggae, dancehall, heavy drum & bass, and soulful vocals with conscious lyrics into positive dance music that will make you want to move!  Spearheaded by the stunning vocals of Jessica Brown, the band has been surprising and delighting crowds across the Central New York region and beyond with their unique high-energy style. Root SHOCK’s love of reggae music flows deep.  The band’s dedication to spreading music with a positive message has paid off in entertaining, elevating, and energizing music lovers of all walks of life in a wide range of settings!

    Root SHOCK will be anchoring a monthly Syracuse reggae night designed to bring the best and most diverse acts that modern reggae has to offer to the area. They’re not stopping there, though; Root SHOCK recording their first studio album and are set to hit the road to spread their uplifting message and vibes and take their renowned live performances to the masses!

    Fronted by lead singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist Jackson Wetherbee, The Cornerstone is a Reggae, Rock, Funk band hailing from the South Shore of Boston, Massachusetts. The band also features musicians formerly of The Aldous Collins Band and Last Call, two New England Music Award winning bands. Their sound is similar to that of Spiritual Rez, UB40, The Police, Sublime and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They put on a fun, energetic show where crowds dance, groove, and sing along to their tunes.

    Thursday April 21 SPIRITUAL REZ and GRAYAK

    With their latest release, Apocalypse Whenever, Boston’s beloved reggae-rock funkateers Spiritual Rez deliver their most triumphant musical offering yet. Produced by lead singer Toft Willingham, co-produced by bassist Jesse Shaternick, and mastered by legendary engineer Howie Weinberg (Ramones, Beastie Boys, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers), the 14-track collection of infectious anthems is chock-full of rollicking guitar riffs, ocean-bathed melodies, swagger-centric basslines, crisp soaring horns, and ska-infused jam sections that have come to define Rez’s progressive signature sound. While their groove is primarily rooted in rock, reggae, and funk traditions, the septet draws stylistic influence from nearly every musical movement of the 20th century. Over the past nine years, Rez has tirelessly toured the country ten times over, cemented their status as a consistent festival favorite, and honed their exhilarating live show into an incomparable, unabashed musical extravaganza. They have shared the stage with artistic visionaries including Toots and the Maytals, Rubblebucket, Gogol Bordello, the Dirty Heads, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, Jimmy Buffett, and Bernie Worrell. Evoking their personal power animals, they fearlessly forge into a bold new chapter of their epic musical journey and prepare to hit the road for a nationwide tour once more….

    Thursday April 28 JERRY JOSEPH AND THE JACKMORMONS

    Joseph is a prolific and accomplished songwriter who has written hits for Widespread Panic. He has released 30 albums in his more than 30 year career, not only as a solo artist, but also with the Jackmormons, supergroup Stockholm Syndrome, his burning two-piece The Denmark Veseys, and with his beloved 80s cult band, Little Women.  Playing over 150 shows around the globe a year, Joseph is a relentless live performer.  He has toured with Vic Chesnutt, Chris Whitley and Walter Salas-Humara, just to name a few. Not only has he toured Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast with the Jackmormons, but also solo through Nicaragua, Mexico, south-east Asia, Israel, Nepal, Lebanon, and the bulk of Europe.  Most recently he volunteered as a rock school music teacher in Kabul, Afghanistan. Over the years, Joseph and his Jackmormons have shown a penchant for picking a spot on a map, taking over a town, and putting on a festival. Last year, Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons released a live concert DVD, Nicaragua, recorded over three nights just outside of Rivas, Nicaragua. Joseph was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in October 2015. He will be touring in Mexico, Australia and New Zealand this Winter and Spring in addition to the States. Check the Jackmormons’ web site for tour dates.

  • Country Music Mourns Legendary Star, Merle Haggard

    On April 6, 2016, the country music world lost one of the truly great trail blazing musicians of our generation. Born exactly 79 years previously to the date, Haggard was raised by a his widowed mother in a small town outside of Bakersfield, California in a boxcar that had been converted into their home.

    The young Haggard found himself in and out of trouble and juvenile detention homes for much of his young life, until he finally landed himself in Folsom Prison, where his experiences there would map out his future destiny.

    merle haggardMusic first became a part of his life when he was given a hand me down guitar by his brother.  The self taught Haggard never considered it anything but a hobby until at at Lefty Frizzle concert, Lefty overheard Haggard singing along to some music and insisted that he take to the stage to sing before he went on.  Liking the experience he decided to take up music as a career finding himself playing at local night spots. Not enough to make ends meet, Haggard once again found himself in trouble with the law.  It was the stint at Folsom that he made two life changing decisions; to clean up his act, and after seeing Johnny Cash perform at Folsom, to make music his focus instead of trouble.

    The timing of Haggard’s release from Folsom coincided with the new country music movement happening in the Bakersfield area.  Tired of the orchestrated sound Nashville was churning out, a new sound with an upbeat tempo, electrified guitars, and newly emerging rock and roll together with the tried and true sound of swing music, created a new country sound; that we now consider the Bakersfield Country sound. Considered to be one of the founders of this sound during that time, Merle Haggard carved out a niche that fit him perfectly.  Not too formal, a little bit rowdy, and a lot of bit energetic, this country  musician began working with some of today most revered country musicians.

    Known for thirty eight number one songs, this decorated musician’s style was a bit in your face at the time.  His songwriting skills and ability to play multiple instruments just added to his charm.  One of his most loved songs would be “Okie from Muskogee.”  Written as a satirical jibe at students who were protesting against the war, Haggard felt compelled to tell them how it was.  The tongue in cheek lyrics, set the tone and image we all knew and grew to love.  His ability to deliver music penetrated you with a stare and bad boy image liking him to the James Dean of country music.

    The group of musicians Haggard became associated with included Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, and so many greats too numerous to mention. Their shenangigans were widely followed, and their music just as loved as their outgoing personalities.   Forever known as Poncho and Lefty, Haggard and Willie Nelson will always be considered two peas in a pod.

    Gathering award after award, not only by himself, but also as a collaborator, Merle Haggard continued to sing up until right before he passed. His music and style influenced so many of today’s artists and can be heard in references throughout so many songs. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, recipient of numerous Country Music Association awards, Grammy Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Haggard was continuously recognized for his contributions to country music.  Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 1994, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977, and a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2010, it was all in a days work to Haggard.

    Married several times, it was later in life that Haggard was able to settle down and enjoy life as it should be.  Leaving a legacy of six children, it was his role as a father that touched me the most.  In an interview I saw recently on AXS TV, Dan Rather interviews Merle Haggard and gives the viewer a peek of his personality.  I can recall thinking to myself at the time, boy I wish I could meet him and cover one of his shows.  Yes, he was an amazing musician, but what an interesting person he was, and I so wanted to learn more about him.  This weekend Merle Haggard The Big Interview with Dan Rather on AXS TV will once again air.  Please check your local listings and watch.  It will be there you see the man behind the image, the man behind the music, and see he was an amazing man.

     This peek inside of Merle Haggard’s life, has been shared by his youngest son, Ben Haggard throughout the years.  It was in a recent post on Instagram I was notified of Haggard’s passing.  As I scrolled through Ben’s photos, I noticed one of Haggard that was really a cool black and white.  As I opened it, it was this quote that spoke volumes. What would be his final Father’s Day together, his son Ben, posted this message last year to his father on  Instagram.
    “Everyone thinks you know him, and in a lot of way you do through his music, cause it’s honest.  But I’ve seen a different side, a father.  He has been the best dad anyone could ask for… has shared the gift of music, what love should be, ..how to be a friend, and (how to) keep your word…I love you Dad, Happy Father’s Day”.

    The love and respect they shared shone bright.  If the family had the opportunity to share about their father, husband, brother, etc. I’m sure it would be about the man he was, as the music was a given, it was the man he grew to be that made Merle Haggard a true legend and loved worldwide.

    A photo posted by Ben Haggard (@benhaggard) on

  • Fridays in April at Parish Public House, Presented by NYS Music

    NYS Music is proud to announce the lineup for Fridays in April at Parish Public House, one of Albany’s premier music venues with a taste of New Orleans infused throughout the beer selection, decor and menu.

    April 8 – The Deadbeats

    Playing the music of The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin and so much more! The Deadbeats are based in New Paltz/Albany, NY, and have been one of the hardest working bands in the Northeast since their inception in 1993.  In all the years of playing together, they have amassed a large and loyal following of fans who appreciate the open ended, participatory nature of their performances. Along with a virtually inexhaustible repertoire of cover tunes, they have a considerable amount of original material. The Deadbeats are actually able to please most of the people most of the time. The Deadbeats play the first Friday of every month at the Parish Public House and every Wednesday night at The Low Beat.

    April 15 – Blind Owl Band

    Hailing from Saranac Lake, NY, in the heart of the Adirondack mountains, The Blind Owl Band has been creating what they call Freight Train String Music since 2010. And a freight train it truly is. Although the quartet’s sound is rooted in traditional stringed instruments (guitar, basses, banjo and mandolin), their music surges forward with the strength and power of a hundred-ton diesel locomotive. Songs barrel down the tracks with momentum and intensity normally found in much heavier, heavily amplified music. They’ve played on almost every festival east of the Mississippi and shared the stage with countless artists across all genres of the musical spectrum. Looking ahead into 2016, the band will begin recording their as-yet-untitled third full length album in early spring, with an eye toward a mid-summer release. This freight train has no one conductor but four shovel boys pushing the limits of their engine night after night, so climb aboard and get ready for a one-of-a-kind ride.

    April 22 – MOVE Music Festival

    The MOVE Music Festival is a Indian ledge Music Group production. The festival will consist of approximately 100 acts performing at venues across Albany, New York on April 22-24 2016. The main purpose of this event is to give exposure to regional talent through live performances at select venues and provide musicians with insight on how to conduct their careers in today’s independent music scene. Music starts at 6pm on Friday, April 22 with multiple bands performing throughout the evening. Check back for updates when the schedule is released.

    April 29 – Lord Electro

    Hailing from Albany, NY Lord Electro quickly emerged on the scene in 2015 with their organic high energy Live-Electro/trance music. This has proven to generate quite the dance party! After making a name for themselves with their first show at Bellstock 21 LE played a run of Summer and Fall dates in markets across NY and New England including opening for The New Deal in Saratoga, NY this past November. With experienced musicians Dan Gerken (Timbre Coup, Groovestick) and Steve Mink (Digital Dharma) behind the tones and the addition of Jordan “George” LeFleur on the drumkit this trio is a force to be reckoned with and a magnificent display of organic improv on the dance floor.

  • Bearsville Theater Announces Spring Schedule

    It’s no surprise that the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock released an exciting schedule for the spring.

    This unique venue draws a variety of world-class artists throughout the year. This April and May will feature familiar names from several genres including folk, jam bands, reggae, funk and DJ sets.

    Bearsville Theater sits in a wooded area about one minute outside of Woodstock. Guests can enjoy the Bear Café next door while checking out the Sawkill Creek. Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST FM also shares the property. Fans of the venue return time and again for both the music and the incredible atmosphere.

    Next week features rising stars Pink Talking Fish on April 7 followed by a funky treat a few days later on April 10: Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Radiators, James Brown and the Meter Men.

    Grateful Dead fans can get their fix on April 15 with the Garcia Project and April 16 with Skeleton Keys featuring Todd Stoops of RAQ (formerly Kung Fu) and Alex Mazur of Gratefully Yours.

    Folk group Elephant Revival from Colorado will play on April 30 and rising jam band stars Formula 5 take the stage on May 13.

    A full schedule is available below. Please visit www.bearsvilletheater.com for details and tickets.

    April 1 – The Mountain Goats

    April 7 – Pink Talking Fish

    April 10 – Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Radiators, James Brown, and The Meter Men

    April 15 – The Garcia Project

    April 16 – Skeleton Keys with Todd Stoops (Kung Fu) & Alex Mazur (Gratefully Yours)

    April 23 – Ladies Night with DJ Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite and DJ Lady Verse

    April 30 – Elephant Revival

    May 6 –  Feast of Friends (Doors Tribute)

    May 7 – Tangoman & The Latin All Star World Beat Dance Band

    May 13 –  Formula 5 with Hayley Jane and Justin Hancock of Hayley Jane and the Primates

    May 14 – Gary Nest Pine (former lead singer of The Wailers) & The Big Takeover

  • Water Street Music Hall is Back

    Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall is back has been awarded a conditional entertainment license allowing the historical venue to re-open.

    Water Street, as previously reported, was not given a renewal for their entertainment license due to several previous incidents cited by the city. Without an entertainment license, a venue cannot provide live music or dance related events.

    The new license is active immediately and will be re-assessed on Jan. 31, 2017. The conditional nature of the license indicates the club must be extra careful to provide the appropriate amount of security and proper amenities for guests.

    Along with the license announcement, a slew of upcoming shows appear to be booked. Check out the unofficial itinerary below.

    We will continue to provide updates as this story develops, stay tuned, and welcome back Water Street Music Hall!

    WATER STREET SPRING SCHEDULE

    April 10 – Monuments
    April 14 – Mobb Deep
    April 19 – We Came as Romans / Oceano / Miss May I
    April 22 – Nekrogoblikon
    April 25 – Amon Amarth
    April 30 – Chris Webby
    May 3 – Soulfly / Suffocation / BATTLECROSS
    May 4 – OTEP / Lacy Sturm (from Flyleaf)
    May 6 – J. Schmallz
    May 14 – CHANZ
    May 28 – AURAS / MANDROID ECHOSTAR
    June 12 – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (10 year anniversary tour)

  • Butch Trucks Band to Headline NYS Blues Festival

    This year’s New York State Blues Festival will be headlined by Butch Trucks & Freight Train.

    Trucks, known best as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, will close out the free, two-night festival in Syracuse’s Clinton Square.

    Also performing at the festival, to be held July 8 and 9, will be Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, blues guitarist Sonny Landreth, and a host of other national, regional and local bands.

    In addition to performing Saturday, blues artist Tas Cru, of Chaumont, near Watertown, will also hold a musical workshop Saturday afternoon.

    This year’s festival will again include the Signature Student Series. Signature Music is a nonprofit group that teaches music to teens in Central New York who can’t afford private lessons. Students from the program will perform in between main stage acts at NYS Blues Festival.

    An estimated 15,000 people from throughout the U.S. and Canada attended last year’s festival, which included the Robert Randolph Band, the Devon Allman Band and a reunion of legendary Syracuse blues band, the Kingsnakes.

    The New York State Blues Festival was founded in 1991, and since then it has grown into the largest free blues fests in the Northeast. Over the years, it has hosted huge names like Buddy Guy, Little Feat, Dickie Betts, Bo Diddley and more. The festival is community focused and seeks to promote and cultivate the great American art form of the blues.

    The full 2016 New York State Blues Festival lineup:

    Friday July 8

    Main Stage

    4pm – MIKE DELANEY & THE DELINQUENTS – main stage

    4:45pm – JANE ZELL – side stage

    5:10pm – FUNKY BLU ROOTS – main stage

    5:55pm – JANE ZELL – side stage

    6:20pm – THE WESTCOTT JUGSUCKERS – main stage

    7:10pm – JEFF JONES – side stage

    7:30pm – BRANDON SANTINI – main stage

    8:40pm – JEFF JONES – side stage

    9:10pm – SISTER SPARROW & THE DIRTY BIRDS – main stage

    Saturday July 9

    12pm – Workshop w/ TAS CRU – side stage

    1pm – SKIP MURPHY & HIS MERRY PRANKSTERS – main stage

    1:40pm – SIGNATURE STUDENT SERIES – side stage

    2pm – TAS CRU – main stage

    2:55pm – SIGNATURE STUDENT SERIES – side stage

    3:15pm – MIDNIGHT MIKE PETROFF BLUES HARP BAND – main stage

    4:10pm – TOM DWYER – side stage

    4:30pm – TORONZO CANNON – main stage

    5:40pm – TOM DWYER – side stage

    6:00pm – SOUL OF SYRACUSE w/ THE FABULOUS RIPCORDS w/special guests PETE MCMAHON, MAUREEN HENESEY, MARK HOFFMAN – main stage

    7:10pm – BIG D – side stage

    7:30pm – SONNY LANDRETH – main stage

    8:40pm – BIG D – side stage

    9:10pm – BUTCH TRUCKS & THE FREIGHT TRAIN BAND – main stage

  • Bernie Sanders to Appear on Forthcoming Phish Studio Album

    With news this week that Phish has wrapped up recording of their latest studio album in Nashville, a source close to NYS Music has revealed a new piece of information regarding the album. A little birdie has provided unconfirmed, unsubstantiated rumors that can be declared plausible given the unfolding of information thus far.

    Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was seen leaving a Nashville rehearsal studio with drummer Jon Fishman twice in the few days of down time the candidate had between his East Troy, WI rally and Brooklyn, NY rally.

    The source close to NYS Music offers that the visits Sanders made to the rehearsal studio with Fishman were collaborative beyond politics. This suggests that the friendship cultivated between Sanders, Fishman, and the Phish community has led the Senator to contribute to the album on a creative level. It could be possible that Sanders offered backing vocals on a new song, much like his early work on Phish’s first album, Junta, where he provided harmony on the “washuffizidrivemetofirenze” portion of “You Enjoy Myself.”

    Sanders, when reached for comment, would not comment on the album, but suggested his campaign would “Keep it rollin” all the way through to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.

    Earlier this year, Fishman had performed at a rally in Durham, NH and has previously spoken out o-phish-ally in support of the Vermont Senator. On the other hand, Sanders provided the claim that Phish has “made New England proud. They are one of the great bands, have been one of the great bands in this country.”

    Showing off his vocal chops, Sanders has previously recorded “This Land is Your Land” for an album released in 1987 and recently stood beside Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig to share in the verses of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.”

    Sanders would not be the first Democratic Presidential field to have had a notable hand in music. Among him are former 2016 candidate Martin O’Malley (guitar – the band O’Malley’s March), Woodrow Wilson (violin), Harry S. Truman (piano), Andrew Jackson (banjo), Barack Obama (lyrics), and Bill Clinton (tenor sax).

    Stay tuned to NYS Music for the latest info on Phish’s upcoming album and Bernie Sanders’ recording chops.