Annie in the Water whose roots remain in Watertown NY, will be making their second stop on their 2016 Tour here in Syracuse NY, bringing their positive vibes to numerous venues throughout Vermont, Maine, Potsdam NY, Troy NY, Wilmington NY and their homestead Watertown. Founding members Brad Hester (vocals/percussion/guitar/looper) and Michael Lashomb (guitar/vocals) and featured member Dillon Goodfriend (keys) are sure warm the atmosphere with a mixture of high energy reggae/rock and uplifting lyricism.
Andrew Choi is the incredibly talented singer/songwriter behind St. Lenox, with Chris Hills / Nick Fed (guitar), Jorge Vega/Brandon Vitruls and Todd Celmar (drums), Chris Bolognese (bass) and Fritz Chrysler (mp3 Player). St. Lenox is a smooth mixture of jazz, classical music and electronica. Andrew Choi’s will surely bring some depth to the stage with some powerful lyrics from his debut album Ten Songs About Memory and Hopereleased on January 20, 2015. Andrew hopes to release their newest album titled Ten songs from my American Gothic in the Spring of 2016.
Doors open at 8:00 pm, show starts at 9:00 pm. Get tickets here.
Rock band Candlebox made its mark in the 1990s with a self-titled debut featuring multiple singles, including “Far Behind,” “You,” and “Cover Me,” and follow ups Lucy and Happy Pills. Touring throughout the decade and selling over 8 million albums brought the band to a hiatus in 2000, but the reformed band reunited in 2006 for two more albums, Into the Sun and Love Stories & Other Musings.
An acoustic performance, featuring Kevin Martin and Adam Kury, will take center stage in Albany on Tuesday, February 2 at The Egg Performing Arts Center in the Swyer Theater at 8pm with Frank Palangi opening. Tickets are available at The Egg box office or online. Candlebox are currently hard at work on their new album, which is set for release on March 11, 2016. Preorder Disappearing in Airports.
Check out upcoming Tour dates and visit their Facebook and Twitter accounts to stay up to date on all things Candlebox.
New York Blues Hall of Fame singer and Brooklyn resident Sari Schorr is gaining a lot of momentum as a solo artist. After being a member of Joe Louis Walker’s band in 2013 and then Popa Chubby’s band in 2014, Schorr met legendary producer Mike Vernon in 2015, who upon hearing Schorr’s original work came out of retirement to produce her debut solo album coming out later this year.
Schorr will be performing at the Lead Belly Festival taking place on February 4 at the fabled Carnegie Hall in New York City, where she will be joining Buddy Guy, Eric Burdon, and many others to pay tribute to renowned New York folk-blues musician Lead Belly. Her other New York performances include shows at The Falcon in Marlboro on February 7, Turing Point in Piermont on February 12, and The Cutting Room in New York City on February 17. NYS Music spoke with Schorr on topics ranging from working with Mike Vernon to performing at Carnegie Hall.
Nicholas Cho: Before singing the blues, I heard you first started in opera. Is that correct?
Sari Schorr: Yeah I was studying with a Julliard opera teacher. That was really the best thing that I ever did because it allowed me to learn how to use my voice properly, which is why now I can put a lot of demands on my voice now, and I don’t have a problem with my voice at all. I’ve been really lucky.
NC: When did you switch to the blues?
SS: I was doing a lot of jazz singing, and I wanted to make an album for a friend of mine who had a successful label here in New York. He had come to one of my shows and said, “Honey, you’re a blues singer. Why are you fighting this?” And I was, “Because I love the subtlety of jazz and the nuance.” It was kind of like a self-awareness thing—realizing that my voice was just so well-suited for blues and it was really the vehicle to use my voice to its full potential.
I had always loved the music from my early influences of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. When I went back to discover who were their influences, I discovered Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey and Big Mama Thornton. What I loved about the music that they were singing was that it was very honest, and it was this genre that would allow such honest communication between performer and audience. I loved this dialogue that the blues allowed.
NC: What was it like having Mike Vernon as your producer for your debut album?
SS: He’s a legendary producer—a pioneer—and he is the truest form of an artist I’ve ever worked with. He is so generous with his talent and with his energy. Working with him is perfect. I’m doing the next album with him and the one after that. We’ve already agreed to do two albums together.
We adore each other—he’s family to me. He brings out the best in everybody he works with. The musicians loved being with him in the studio. He’s got boundless energy and enthusiasm, and he has a vision so clear in his head on how to make the best possible album in keeping line with what the artist wants.
NC: How far into the recording process are you for your debut album?
SS: Well we just finished mixing, I would say, 80% of the album. There are two new songs on the record that we just added, so those will be getting mixed in the next couple of weeks.
NC: How did you get involved with the Lead Belly Festival?
SS: There is a terrific guy from Norway who is the manager of one of the venues I work at, and he talked me up to one of the producers of the show. That producer happened to be at the venue with an artist, and this manager, who is always promoting me in any way he can, told the producer, “There’s this singer, Sari Schorr—you’ve got to see her,” and that was the introduction.
The thing is, is that this venue is one that usually takes me two hours to get to from Brooklyn, and there were many times where I was exhausted coming back from overseas and jet-lagged, and I still went out there consistently, and that’s how it happened.
NC: What influence did Lead Belly have on you?
SS: Lead Belly was a phenomenal storyteller, and learning how to tell stories through music and use a lot of symbolism and imagery—that’s the influence Lead Belly had on my songwriting—this incredible honesty and simplicity in the lyrics that’s really deceiving. He’s speaking a lot under the surface of the lyrics.
NC: What is it like for you to be performing at Carnegie Hall?
SS: It’s an honor because it’s such a historic venue. It’s an honor because of the other artists that are going to be performing—Buddy Guy who I met when I did a co-bill with Joe Louis Walker and him up in Canada, and then with Eric Burdon and Walter Trout, who is going to be on my album. It’s really an honor to be a part of history in this way, and also being able to honor such an important man who contributed so much to blues music.
Brooklyn-based electronica duo Break Science will put on back-to-back hometown shows this week at Brooklyn Bowl.
Break Science is the project of Adam Deitch (drums) and Borahm Lee (keys). The duo fuses its hip-hop roots with dub and funk influences and a smattering of electronic styles to create a fusion music that rumbles and moves bodies. Both collaborators have extensive experience playing in other bands (Lettuce, Pretty Lights Live Band, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Matisyahu), and Deitch has produced the likes of 50 Cent, Redman and Talib Kweli.
In the past few months, Break Science have released the acclaimed single “Force of Nature” ft. Paperwhite and have toured the US. They’re set to appear at the Gem & Jam Festival in Tuscon, AZ, in February. In the midst of this activity, these Brooklyn Bowl gigs will showcase Dietch and Lee playing in two different live band configurations.
Thursday, January 28, will feature Break Science performing in conjunction with Manic Focus, the musical project of likeminded Chicago-based artist John “JmaC” McCarten. The High & Mighty Brass Band Horns and CX will round out the band. Artifakts and Brasstracks will open.
Friday, January 29, will feature the Break Science Live Band comprised of The Shady Horns, Adam “Shmmeans” Smirnoff and Jesus Coomes of Lettuce, Rahzel, CX and Bajah. Marvel Years and Dreamers Delight will open. Doors open at 6 PM and music starts at 8 PM both evenings.
Thunder 106 brought up – and – coming country artist Kelsea Ballerini to Starland Ballrom in Sayerville, NJ, for what promised to be a rocking night of female country artists. Kelsea Ballerini was supported by North Dakota’s Hailey Steele and NJ native Madeline Smith. Starland Ballroom has been hosting a slew of talented country artists in the recent months including Kip Moore and Michael Ray on the Wild Ones Tour and the upcoming show on February 14th with Dustin Lynch and Chris Lane.
Madeline Smith opened up the evening with a mix of her own songs and various covers of popular country songs to get the crowd engaged and involved. Among the covers played by Smith were “We Were Us” by Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, a good choice for a local artist to catch the attention of the crowd with a song they could sing along to, and her closing song, another by the extremely talented Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”.
Hailey Steele was up next after travelling from North Dakota to play two shows with Kelsea Ballerini, this show in NJ and the show the next day in Boston, MA. Steele took the stage with nothing but her guitar and strong vocals to captivate the crowd. She too played a good mix of songs including some of her more popular music from 2014 and 2015. “Another Like You”, an original by Steele was one of her most popular of the evening drawing strong favor from the crowd. The other song that seemed to stand out most with the crowd was “I Want Your Boyfriend” with a catchy chorus and highly relatable lyrics.
By the time Kelsea Ballerini was set to take the stage the crowd was more than ready to see what the 22 year old, up – and – coming country artist would bring to the stage. Ballerini took the stage with command and confidence of someone well beyond her years. She has a stage presence and charismatic personality that sets her apart from many other rising artists and will enable her to continue to grow as a musician.
Ballerini kicked things off with “Looking at Stars” off her first full length release, The First Time (2015). She continued on with a mix off songs off that record that had the crowd engaged and singing along including “Sirens” and her most recent single “Dibs” which was clearly a fan favorite from the crowd’s strong reaction. She carried on into “Peter Pan” which she introduced as a song for all of the girls who have encountered a guy that refuses to grow up and act his age, which is entirely relatable to the demographic of her fan base and the song “Stilettos, another relatable song for young girls about moving on from heartbreak and carrying on with your life. Ballerini is one of the stand out female artists in country currently that have been making a splash on country music radio with her strong willed, confident lyrics that resonate very strongly with the younger generation of country fans which is why she will continue to amass a dedicated fan base.
A highlight of the evening was her cover of Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” in which she enlisted the help Hailey Steele and had the entire crowd singing along emphatically as the two young women commanded the stage together. Ballerini ended the night on a very strong and memorable note with the spunky “XO” once again showing off her confident and spunky flare, and her most recognizable song, “Love Me Like You Mean It”. Ballerini took the country music world by storm with this song reaching gold as well as number one on the Billboard Country Airplay with her debut single. She is among ten other women in history to achieve such a feat including Carry Underwood most recently in 2006. Ballerini has had a lot going for her since her start and has capitalized on the many opportunities she has earned including her most recent nationwide tour opening for Jake Owen and Dan + Shay.
The night was a memorable concert with three talented young women looking to make a name for themselves in country music. Each showed great potential to carry on and further their careers. It will not be long until Ballerini, especially, is preforming on much larger stages much like the ones she was on during her fall tour.
Mountain Jam finalized their lineup for this year’s festival. Among the additions are Houndmouth, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Quilt, Darlingside, the Record Company, the Movement and Scott Sharrard. Three New York acts were also added to the lineup, including Albany’s Wild Adriatic, Woodstock’s Elijah Wolf and New Paltz’s Upstate Rubdown. Marco Benevento will play a tribute to David Bowie with Superhuman Happiness.
The non-musical activities have also been announced and include yoga with Michael Franti, lectures and Q&A sessions on the cannabis industry, and hula hoop classes. There will also be a screening of “Let Us Play,” a new documentary about funk band and festival performer Lettuce.
Original post:
An annual tradition nestled in the heart of the Catskills, Mountain Jam has unveiled their lineup for 2016, featuring big names, newcomers and familiar acts that make the festival one of the most established in the Northeast.
This year’s lineup features headliners Beck, Wilco, The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule and Umphrey’s McGee. Additional acts include Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Gary Clark Jr., Michael Franti & Spearhead, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Courtney Barnett, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Lettuce, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, the New Mastersounds, and Third World.
A few New York acts are on the bill, including Turkuaz and Donna the Buffalo, plus regional acts Son Little, the London Souls, Cabinet, the Ballroom Thieves with Maine Youth Rock Orchestra, And the Kids, Love Canon, Marcus King Band, Con Brio, Jane Lee Hooker, Copious Jones, Madaila, the Suitcase Junket and Paul Green Rock Academy.
Thievery Corporation will take things into the late night. More acts will be announced in coming weeks.
This Friday at Verboten in Brooklyn, the electronic duo of Elijah Wood and Zach Cowie, aka Wooden Wisdom take the stage with a stellar lineup of DJs in tow. Wood and Cowie’s project demonstrates stylistic range, but still maintains a distinct harmonic impression that’s unique to Wooden Wisdom alone. Known for spinning vinyl that ranges in style and sound from African funk and acid rock to bass driven funky 70’s classics, they weave a range of artists and beats into smooth, energetic, sophisticated mixes.
Wood and Cowie’s music bears a certain reflection to it’s stylistic influences, which are American DJs and producers with deep footprints in the hiphop and electronic music scenes. Wood recently did an interview with promoter Harrison Waxenberg, who also produces for Brooklyn based electronic duo Horizon Wireless. When asked about his musical influences, Wood said “The DJs that inspired me to want to spin records would probably have to be Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow.”
Other performers include Ben Silver from Chicago based live production act Orchard Lounge, Callie Reiff, Philadelphia based producers Wyllys and Risky Disko, Business Casual Disco, Tucci, and many more.
The event is an all night affair, filled with music from talented DJs and producers from throughout the country. Wooden Wisdom will perform in the early hours after midnight with the first act of the evening starting at 10 pm, and music ending at 6 am.
Tickets for Wooden Wisdom at Verboten are still available online for $40. Verboten is located at 54 N. 11th Street in Brooklyn, New York. The show is 21+.
Winter is upon us in New York and if you’re in Syracuse, you’ll need to find some place to warm up. May we suggest some Funk n Waffles? NYS Music presents bands from around New York State, every Wednesday throughout January.
January 6 – Faces of the Damned, Wagner 3000, Pale Green Stars
Faces of Damned grew out of years of late night shows with founders Anthony DiRosa and Andres Echenique. Anthony was the lead singer/guitarist for the punk and horror punk bands Plan 607 and Dead Holiday. Andres was bass player for Crankdaddy, a pop punk band. These bands were a key part of the punk scene in Syracuse in the early 2000s.
Wagner 3000 is an alternative to the alternative bands. From Syracuse, Wagner 3000 performs music that simultaneously showcases a previously unseen musical spectacle among the widest range of captivating songs found in a show today. Mingling with vast aspects of influence From Bowie, UFO, AC/DC, NIN, Nirvana, King Crimson, and the ever so enchanting carnival music (and many other sources). Wagner has the capability to tingle all your moods and senses.
Pale Green Stars has just been mistaken for one of those cow-punk power trios you might find rocking a stage behind chicken wire at some wayward Texas roadhouse. Pale Green Stars is letting its New York grown cow-punk steer deep into the heart of Texarkana as they redefine gut-bucket twang with a punkadelic cutting edge that’s as sharp as a barbershop straight razor. (Jeff Herrell – South Bend Tribune)
January 13 – The Bog Brothers
The Bog Brothers were formed by a group of like-minded musicians in the Central New York area who share a love of playing Americana music and having a good time doing it. Mike Gridley (aka “Griz”) leads the group, playing mandolin, banjo and providing lead vocals. He is joined by Marc Odin on guitar and his longtime musical accomplice Steve Buck on bass and vocals. Mike Lounsbery adds harmonica, percussion and vocals, West Coast resident Taylor Bucci provides drums and vocals (when schedule permits), and Scott Wilson rounds out the group on dobro.
January 20 – Caleb Liber & Judge Gazza
Caleb Liber (Telegraph Hill Acoustic) will bring his acoustic guitar along with a wide range of musical styles including indie rock, post rock, post hardcore, metal, punk, post punk, grunge, electronica, acoustic and folk.
Judge Gazzais a retro swampy blues musician originating from Syracuse New York. He brings his growling vocals, raw barebones Peavey powered slide guitar and pounding Converse Chuck Taylor hill stomp rhythmic beats to the back corners and sidewalks outside punk rock shows and the campfires of metal band summer festivals all over Central and Western New York. Judge Gazza’s first EP, It’s All Fun & Games, was released June 28th 2015 on cassette tape via LRS Records of Syracuse NY.
January 27 – RUHA with special guest Corey Paige
RUHAis the brain child of long time touring musician Charley Orlando. This time around RUHA is Brian Lauri on Keys and Vocals filling in the space between Charley’s acoustic guitar and vocals. The duo is massive sounding and unique for 2 people.
Corey Paige is a SAMMY Award winning singer-songwriter from Syracuse, NY. His influences include Elliott Smith, Radiohead, Elvis Costello, and Soul Coughing. After five studio albums and more than a decade as frontman for rock band Candid, he’s currently working on new material for his first solo album.
Doors open at 7pm each night with music starting at 8pm. Enjoy a variety of bands that call New York State home every Wednesday night at Funk n Waffles, and some great food too!
Schorr will be performing at the 
NC: What influence did Lead Belly have on you?