NYS Music 20​16

Category: Regions

  • Albany Symphony Orchestra 2016-2017 Season Features Yo Yo Ma

    The Albany Symphony Orchestra announced their 2016-2017 season, and it’s a big one with special guests Yo Yo Ma and anniversary celebrations.

    albany symphony yo yo maCelebrating the 25th anniversary of Grammy Award-winning musical director David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony Orchestra has a big season lined up for their 87th year, including a performance with special guest cellist Yo Yo Ma and six world premiers. Miller’s strong devotion to music education, dynamic presence on the podium and dedication to the music of our time have brought a new level of success to the orchestra. The new season is designed to celebrate the collaboration between Miller and the musicians.

    The 2016-2017 season will also feature a number of special guest musicians in addition to Yo Yo Ma’s visit on Dec. 8. From the press release:

    The gala opening concert will feature soprano Saili Oak and pianist Natasha Paremski. In January, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 will be performed by the great Russian virtuoso, Ilya Rashkovskiy. Other artists making their first appearance with the Albany Symphony include oboist Kathleen Needleman, violist Richard O’Neill, and guest conductor Karina Canellakis. In addition, there will be soloists from the Bard College Conservatory for the Mozart & Bach weekend. Several outstanding guest artists will participate in the American Music Festival in May, including the radiant violinist Chee-Yun and legendary Indian Folk-Clarinetist Shankar Tucker. 

    The season runs from October through June, with an opening night gala on Sept. 24. Season subscriptions are available, though they do not include the Evening with Yo Yo Ma. However, subscribers will have early access to purchase those tickets.

    2016-2017 Season:
    Opening Night Gala- Ravel & Sibelius
    Saturday, September 24, 2016: 7:30PM
    Palace Theatre
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Saili Oak, Soprano
    Natasha Paremski, Piano
    Reena Esmail: “Aria” for Soprano and Orchestra
    Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
    Sibelius: Symphony No. 5

    Peer Gynt
    Saturday, October 22, 2016: 7:30PM
    Sunday, October 23, 2016: 3:00PM
    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Katherine Needleman, Oboe
    Reznicek: Donna Diana Overture
    Leroy Anderson: Three Pieces
    Rouse: Oboe Concerto
    Grieg: Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1
    Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini

    Water Music & Schumann
    Saturday, November 19, 2016: 7:30PM
    Sunday November 20, 2016: 3:00PM
    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Richard O’Neill, Viola
    Handel: Selections from “The Water Music”
    Theofanidis: Viola Concerto
    Bermel: “A Shout, A Whisper, and a Trace”
    Schumann: Symphony No. 4

    An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma
    (Non-Subscription Series, but first access to season subscribers)
    Thursday, December 8, 2016: 7:30PM
    Palace Theatre
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
    Wagner: Prelude to “Die Meistersinger”
    Dvorak: Serenade for Strings
    Conor Brown: New Work (World Premiere)
    Elgar: Cello Concerto

    Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto
    Saturday, January 7, 2017: 7:30PM
    Palace Theatre
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Ilya Rashkovskiy, Piano
    Barber: The School for Scandal Overture
    Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
    Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, “Of Rage and Remembrance”

    Brahms’ Fourth
    Saturday, February 18, 2017: 7:30PM
    Palace Theatre
    Karina Canellakis, Guest Conductor
    Higdon: Dance Cards
    Beethoven: Triple Concerto
    Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor

    Mozart & Bach
    Saturday, March 4, 2017: 7:30PM
    Sunday, March 5, 2017: 3:00PM
    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Soloists from the Vocal Division of Bard College-Conservatory
    Mozart: Symphony No, 40 in G minor
    Torke: Three Concertinos for Solo Instruments and Orchestra (World Premiere)
    Bach: Cantata No. 78 “Jesu, der du meine Seele”

    Beethoven’s 9th
    Saturday, April 8, 2017: 7:30PM
    Palace Theatre
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Albany Pro Musica Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 6
    Tsontakis: 25th Anniversary Commission (World Premiere)
    Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor (“Choral”)

    American Music Festival
    Saturday, May 21, 2017: 7:30PM
    EMPAC
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    Chee-Yun, Violin
    Shankar Tucker, Clarinet
    Harbison: Partita for Orchestra
    Theofanidis: Violin Concerto
    Reena Esmail: Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)
    Mellon Young Composer: New Work (World Premiere)

    Additional Subscriber Specials:
    Roscoe: An American Grand Opera, by Evan Mack (Concert Premiere)
    Saturday, October 15, 2016: 7:30PM
    Palace Theatre
    David Alan Miller, Conductor
    A new opera composed by Capital Region resident and Skidmore College Professor Evan Mack, based on the novel of the same name by Pulitzer Prize winning author William Kennedy.

    Magic of Christmas
    December 4, 2016: 3:00PM
    Palace Theatre
    David Alan Miller, Conductor

    American Music Festival
    May 18-21, 2017
    A weekend of innovative new works by living American composers, artistic happenings, and special events across Troy, including performances by the Albany Symphony and the Dogs of Desire.

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbspIl7-5V8[/embedyt]

  • Cannibal Corpse Thrashes Through North America, Vinyl Reissue

    This week death metal legends Cannibal Corpse kicked off a quick run through the United States, including stops in New York City and their hometown of Buffalo, before they’ll head off to Europe in April.

    Joining the group as supporting acts this tour will be fellow Floridians Obituary, as well as Cryptopsy and Abysmal Dawn.

    Cannibal Corpse is still touring in support of 2014’s A Skeletal Domain; however, in conjunction with the tour, the classic releases Butchered At Birth, Eaten Back To Life, The Bleeding, Vile and Tomb Of The Mutilated are to be commemorated on vinyl. Limited quantities are available as part of the Metal Blade Classics series. Each LP includes an exclusive poster.

    Tampa death metal vets Obituary will join the headliners throughout the full United States tour. The band’s last release was 2014’s Inked in Blood, which in his review for NYS Music, Jay Saint G noted that, “overall, fantastic album that really takes the listener back into the nasty swamps of Tampa and showcases what true death metal is all about.” Most recently, 3 Floyds Brewing co-created a session pilsner with the band called Hopped in Half. (3 Floyds crafted Amber Smashed Face with Cannibal Corpse last year.) Crytopsy, an extreme metal band from Montreal, released a series of EPs entitled The Book of Suffering October 2015, and Los Angeles-based black metal group Abysmal Dawn debuted their fourth studio album Obsolescence in 2014.

    Presented by the Noise, the 33-date tour got started last night in Atlanta and will cap off at Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on March 20. The five-piece band originally from Buffalo makes two stops in New York State, including a hometown gig at the Town Ballroom on Feb. 19 after performing at New York City’s Irving Plaza on Feb. 16. Tickets for the Cannibal Corpse 2016 U.S. spring tour can be purchased through the band’s website.

    2016 Tour Cannibal Corpse w/Obituary, Cryptopsy, Abysmal Dawn:
    2/13 The Sea – Wilmington, NC
    2/14 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
    2/15 Theatre Of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
    2/16 Irving Plaza – New York, NY
    2/18 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
    2/19 Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
    2/20 Opera House – Toronto, ON
    2/21 St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
    2/23 Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
    2/24 The Ready Room – St. Louis, MO
    2/25 The Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS
    2/26 Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN
    2/27 Metro – Chicago, IL
    2/29 The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
    3/1 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
    3/2 Revolution Center – Boise, ID
    3/3 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
    3/4 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
    3/5 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
    3/7 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
    3/8 Avalon Hollywood – Los Angeles, CA
    3/9 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
    3/10 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
    3/11 Club Red – Phoenix, AZ
    3/12 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
    3/14 The Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX
    3/15 Gas Monkey Live! – Dallas, TX
    3/16 House Of Blues – Houston, TX
    3/17 Varsity Theatre – Baton Rouge, LA
    3/18 The Side Bar Theatre – Tallahassee, FL
    3/19 The Ritz Ybor – Tampa, FL *no Obituary
    3/20 Revolution Live – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

  • Rochester’s Thunder Body to Host Five Week Residency

    Rochester natives Thunder Body are gearing up for a busy month in March, with a five-week residency at Flour City Station. The ever-evolving band will play two sets every Wednesday in March for what they are calling “Medicine Wednesdays.”

    Thunder Body’s recent changes include adding a powerful horn section, sailing them over previous genres. Honing their vocal melodies, they have evolved into something much bigger than fans may remember. Proof of their growth can be witnessed this Saturday, Feb. 13, when they open for funk heavy-hitters Turkuaz at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse.

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    Medicine Wednesdays at Flour City Station in Rochester will happen every Wednesday in March, with an $8 cover charge each night.  All shows are 21+.

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  • Valentine’s Day Pairs Local and Veteran Rockers at Paramount Hudson Valley

    More than a musical blind date is coming to Paramount Hudson Valley this Valentine’s Day. Veteran indie pop rockers Gin Blossoms will be joined by Peekskill’s own Joe Duraes & The Skills for an exciting Sunday night double-bill.

    Over the past two decades, Gin Blossoms have been a staple in ’90s playlists with their albums New Miserable Experience and Congratulations I’m Sorry peaking high on the charts and each achieving Platinum status. Since the band’s 2002 reunion following a five-year hiatus, Gin Blossoms have recorded two studio albums and continued to tour.

    Complementing the iconic 90’s sound of Gin Blossoms is the hometown outfit Joe Duraes & The Skills, making their second appearance on the Paramount stage. The band drives home their own style of Hudson Valley rock building off of Duraes’ previous solo acoustic songwriter work fit for any house, whether coffee house, theater, or street festival.

    Sunday’s show is set to start at 8pm, and the Paramount Hudson Valley has special prix fixe dinner-and-a-show tickets available through participating Peekskill restaurants. Visit the Paramount’s website for more information on this offer and tickets to the event.

  • Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin Tour Details Announced

    Details have been announced for the upcoming Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin North American summer tour with special guest Alter Bridge and Saint Asonia.

    Dates and venues are now listed, and more are expected to be announced soon. VIP tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb, 24, and on sale to general public on Friday, Feb, 26.

    New York will see four different stops on the tour, including the first show in the touring cycle, which will take place in Syracuse at the Lakeview Amphitheater on Saturday, July 9. Other stops include July 12 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, July 24 at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center and July 30 at Nikon at Jones Beach in Wantagh.

    Disturbed/Breaking Benjamin Tour Dates:

    07-09 – Syracuse, NY – Lakeview Amphitheater
    07-10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
    07-12 – Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    07-17 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
    07-19 –  Pittsburgh, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
    07-20 – Indianapolis, IN – Klipsch Amphitheater
    07-22 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
    07-23 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
    07-24 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
    07-26 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Amphitheater
    07-27 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
    07-29 – Scranton, PA- The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
    07-30 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach
    07-31 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
    08-04 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
    08-08 – Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
    08-12 – Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Amphitheater
    08-13 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
    08-15 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    08-17 – Albuquerque,  NM – Isleta Amphitheater
    08-19 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion

    Original article:

    Two huge names in rock music who have both recently ended years of being on hiatus will join forces for one incredible co-headlining summer tour.

    Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin will team up and hit the road together for a 24-city summer tour.

    If a co-headling tour featuring two of the best frontmen in the business today is not enough, how about two more? Add Miles Kennedy with his boys from Alter Bridge and recently formed super group Saint Asonia, led by Adam Gontier, as the special guest for the tour.

    It was only evident that a tour between the bands would come together after a video posted by Loudwire of David Draiman joining Ben Burnley and Breaking Benjamin on stage for a cover of “Under Pressure,” made famous by Queen and David Bowie.

    On Feb. 4, Draiman, to the surprise of fans, walked onto stage during a recent stop on Breaking Benjamin’s acoustic tour at Irving Plaza in NYC to sing the duet with Burnley.

    Since their return, Disturbed’s touring calendar is filling up quickly. A intimate, sold-out return tour with Nonpoint this winter and a spring tour with Rob Zombie in between countless festival dates to go along with this tour will keep the band busy now through summer.

    Breaking Benjamin is showing no signs of slowing down since their return, touring relentlessly for almost two years. Breaking Benjamin started the year off with their second acoustic tour, which will be followed by a headlining tour with Startset.

    Burnley and Draiman announced the co-headlining tour live on Sirius/XM Octane with host Kayla Riley, then took over the show as guest DJs for a bit. During the show, Burnley said his old cover band used to cover Disturbed’s “Down With the Sickness,” which delighted Draiman so much that he asked Burnley to play it during sound check. Burnley told him fans will get to hear it twice because he will play it during their set and then Disturbed can play it later. Whether he’ll follow through on that remains to be seen.

    Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Feb. 26. Actual dates have yet to be announced. New York will see dates in Syracuse, Buffalo, Saratoga Springs (July 12?) and Wantagh.

    Disturbed/Breaking Benjamin Tour Announced Cities:

    Syracuse, NY
    Bristow, VA
    Saratoga, NY
    Cleveland, OH
    St. Louis, MO
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Indianapolis, IN
    Boston, MA
    Buffalo, NY
    Detroit, MI
    Cincinnati, OH
    Scranton, PA
    Wantagh, NY
    Holmdel, NJ
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Gilford, NH
    Toronto, ON
    Dallas, TX
    Houston, TX
    Denver, CO
    Albuquerque, NM
    Concord, CA
    Hartford, CT
    Seattle, WA

    Disturbed Tour Poster

  • Hearing Aide: Jimkata ‘In Motion’

    After a short hiatus that took the band off the road and included a change in the band’s line-up, Ithaca based jamtronica/indie rock band Jimkata is back with their much anticipated release In Motion. The album marks the band’s second fan funded album and is packed full of mellow grooves, driving beats and captivating lyrics.

    Simply stated: Welcome to Jimkata 2.0.

    Jimkata In Motion

    If Jimkata lives by its own musical mantra’s, In Motion is best described by a single line from the band’s 2012 release Die Digital –“All the best things seem to surface after the worst times.” The group’s latest release is a revealing composition that celebrates living in the moment and the gripping realities of love, life and loss.

    Musically, In Motion is a varied departure from Jimkata’s signature driving, dance beats and swirling, glaring guitar. There’s a warmer, more peaceful groove infused throughout the entire album, different from some of the band’s harder and edgier releases. But what the band does successfully is create songs that you can lose yourself in. In Motion is full of inviting, listener friendly ear worms; songs that you want to hear constantly on repeat.

    There is a world of musical discovery to this album – like a musical onion. Almost undetectable layers to the band’s sounds that present themselves differently every time you listen to a song. Technically, it may be Jimkata’s most successful album to date. You are forced to listen to the album’s production value, because that’s what the album really is about. Yet, In Motion succeeds at sounding sleek but never over-produced.

    What’s missing from In Motion is the musical push and pull that has become synonymous with previous Jimkata releases. At times, the album teeters into more ambient territory, but despite less edge, the album never borders on sleepy. There is always something to keep your ear listening. And although the album isn’t full of mind altering guitar solos or face melting jams, In Motion showcases a completely different side to the band.

    In a time where bands are incorporating the glory of 80s snyth and new wave technology, Jimkata is exploring it. Whereas the band’s last few releases simply infused the era driven sounds into their mix of catchy guitar riffs and hooky lyrical mantras, In Motion delves deeper into that already established aspect of the band’s sound.

    The album’s first single “In the Moment” captures the essence of Jimkata past and present. It is the one single that feels like it could have fit on albums past, yet In Motion would somehow be incomplete without it. Perfectly timed drums from Packy Lunn create a mellow yet focused disco beat while layers of snyth and keys cascade around vocalist/guitarist Evan Friedell’s comforting vocal style.

    The true gem of In Motion is the album’s lyrical experience.   Friedell creates a haunting familiarity that is personal and connective. In several songs, like “Wild Ride” and “In the Moment,” it feels that he is singing directly to the listener. And it’s that quality that makes this album so special. It takes a confident and self-aware lyricist to create the kind of moments that feel connected and relatable. At times, the album feels like a movie soundtrack without a movie. If you listen close enough, the story is perfectly laid out for the listener to discover.

    As the band launches a late winter tour in support of the album, it will be interesting to see how these songs will fit into the live, high energy performances that Jimkata is known for. Of the albums nine tracks, “Innocence” has the most intriguing live performance potential. “Ride the Wave” and “Build Me Up” have already seen stage time during the last year and fit neatly into the Jimkata live show.

    In Motion drops on February 12, but is still available for pre-sale through the band’s Pledgemusic campaign. Jimkata kicks off their In Motion Release tour on Feb 19 in Burlington, Vermont.

    Key Tracks: Ride the Wave, In the Moment, Wild Ride

  • Wild Adriatic Hits the Road for Eurotrip

    Capital Region rockers Wild Adriatic recently rolled out dates for a Eurotrip and U.S. tour as well. The three-piece group will head out on the road beginning Feb. 11 in Boston and wrapping up May 15 in Spain.

    Fresh off the heels of their debut voyage on the Rock Boat, where they played an all-Zeppelin set and jammed onstage with Sister Hazel, Michael Franti and Gavin Degraw, WA’s upcoming tour includes Northeast-heavy dates with home state stops in Corning, Saratoga Springs, Rochester, Syracuse, Brooklyn, Buffalo and Jamestown before returning to Europe for a four-week headlining run.

    The blues-rock band consists of Travis Gray (vocals, guitar), Rich Derbyshire (bass) and Mateo Vosganian (drums); supporting groups that will share the bill with WA during this winter/spring tour will be the Mallett Brothers Band, Let’s Be Leonard, Turkuaz, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, the Suitcase Junket and Animal Years.

    This January, WA released their first full-length live album from their two-night performance in Albany last October and will record the upcoming Feb. 20 show at Putnam Den for a possible future album. The band’s self-titled EP dropped in 2011, and their most recent collection debuted May 2015 as the five-song Never Enough. Although, according to the press release, WA has a new record in the works:

    We’ll be back in the studio making our second full length record in Fall 2016. Hoping to release Early 2017 and we have never been more excited to get in the studio and create! So much inspiration over the last few months, I know we have a few more tunes in us to get out before we hit the studio but we are very excited with how the material has come together so far!” 

    Tickets for all 2016 show dates are on sale through Wild Adriatic’s official website.

    Wild Adriatic 2016 Tour Dates:

    2/11 – Boston, MA – Lansdowne Pub^
    2/12 – Burlington, VT – Nectar’s^
    2/13 – Sugarloaf, ME – Sugarloaf Mountain^
    2/18 – Corning, NY – Corning Museum of Glass 2300 Series
    2/19 – Portsmouth, NH – Birdseye^
    2/20 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Den*
    2/25 – Rochester, NY – Flour City Station
    2/26 – Syracuse, NY – Funk N Waffles Downtown*
    2/27 – Stratton, VT – Grizzly’s%
    3/3 – Worcester, MA – Electric Haze
    3/4 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl#
    3/10 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
    3/11 – Mifflinburg, PA – Rusty Rail
    3/12 – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar
    3/16 – Washington, DC – Black Cat~
    3/17 – Mercersburg, PA – Mansion House~
    3/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Milkboy~
    3/24 – Hartford, CT – Arch Street Tavern
    3/25 – Manchester, VT – The Perfect Wife
    3/26 – Stratton, VT – Grizzly’s*
    3/31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Cafe
    4/1 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works
    4/2 – Jamestown, NY – Shawbucks

    ^ – w/ The Mallett Brothers Band
    * – w/ Let’s Be Leonard
    % – w/ Turkuaz
    # – w/ Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds & The Suitcase Junket
    ~ – w/ Animal Years

    4/14 – Oostende, Belgium – Bada Bing
    4/15 – Kortrijk, Belgium – Den Trap
    4/16 – Krefeld, Germany – Kulturrampe
    4/17 – Turnhout, Belgium – Dax Cafe
    4/19 – Norderstedt, Germany – Music Star
    4/20 – Malmo, Sweden – St Gertrund
    4/21 – Hamburg, Germany – Sound Yard
    4/22 – Bordesholm, Germany – Albatros
    4/23 – Singwitz, Germany – Kesselhaus
    4/26 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Muzeum Obchodu
    4/27 – Kufstein, Austria – Eggers
    4/28 – Besancon, France – Passengers Du Zinc
    4/29 – Alencon, France – La Luciole
    4/30 – Rouen, France – Hipster Cafe
    5/2 – St Etienne, France – Thunderbird Lounge
    5/4 – Bilbao, Spain – Antzokia
    5/5 – Ourense, Spain – Cafe Auriense
    5/6 – Cangas, Spain – Salason
    5/7 – Aviles, Spain – Centro Niemeyer
    5/8 – Leon, Spain – Gran Cafe
    5/11 – Estepona, Spain – Louie Louie
    5/12 – Murcia, Spain – Garaje Beat Club
    5/13 – Castellon, Spain – Veneno Stereo
    5/14 – Valencia, Spain – Pabersematao
    5/15 – Torredembara, Spain – La Traviesa

  • Breaking News: 50th Anniversary Woodstock Festival Being Planned

    Michael Lang, best known as co-creator of the most famous music festival in history, is at it again with plans for a 50th anniversary Woodstock music festival.

    50th Anniversary Woodstock Festival The original Woodstock took place in 1969 in Bethel and became one of the most famous music festivals of all time. There have been two other Woodstock anniversary festivals in the past, Woodstock ’94 in Saugerties and Woodstock ’99, held in Rome, N.Y., which came to a rather disastrous end with rioting, fires and police lines.

    Since then, promoters have taken a break from using a festival to commemorate the most epic of all festivals, though the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts regularly hosts concerts at its amphitheater on the original festival grounds.

    Lang told the Poughkeepsie Journal that with all the attention music festivals are seeing these days, it seems time for a Woodstock anniversary. He said there is a possibility of not only a U.S. event but one overseas as well, and he would like to see something done on an annual basis that uses the Woodstock name after the 50th anniversary. This is not the first time Lang has alluded to a 50th anniversary concert.

    There are no details yet on locations or bands but stay tuned to see updates as they become available. Stay tuned for more info on the 50th Anniversary Woodstock Festival.

  • Hip Hop Hooray: Mister F Made a Mixtape, McLovins Guest Star

    Now this is how you do a modern-day mixtape.

    Last week, the Albany-based jamband Mister F casually published a stream-worthy collection of cover songs recorded live from their Southeast run this January. The 14-track mixtape features old-school hip-hop songs with guest appearances from the band’s current touring mates, the McLovins.

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    The hour-long downloadable release includes funky covers from popular ’90s artists like Snoop Dog, Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre, MC Hammer and Naughty By Nature. While Mister F keyboardist Scott Hannay lends his vocals to many of the rap renditions (and keytar skills on “Cantaloop”), guitarist Mike Candela takes the lead on “The Real Slim Shady” and drummer Matt Pickering does so on “This Is How We Do It,” with McLovins‘ drummer/frontman Jake Huffman tackling “Rapper’s Delight” and “Hot In Herre.”

    Recorded at venues across Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas, the tape offers a snapshot of setlist surprises from 13 different shows, and with an extensive string of concert dates on the horizon (thankfully, many are in the Northeast), here’s hoping this will be a continued effort throughout the remainder of the tour — because it ain’t nothing but an F thang, baby, and we can’t wait until the next episode.

    Mister F January ’16 Mixtape:

    1. Nuthin’ But A G Thang* 1/14/2016 – The 8×10, Baltimore, MD
    2. Ice Ice Baby* 1/17/2016 – The Pour House, Charleston, SC
    3. Forgot About Dre* 1/15/2016 – Martin’s, Roanoke, VA
    4. Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)*$^ 1/29/2016 – Nowhere Bar, Athens, GA
    5. Baby Got Back* 1/16/2016 – The Camel, Richmond, VA
    6. U Can’t Touch This* 1/21/2016 – SOL Bar at New Mountain AVL, Asheville, NC
    7. Gin and Juice* 1/19/2016 – The Blind Tiger, Greensboro, NC
    8. The Real Slim Shady%+ 1/27/2016 – The Rabbit Hole, Charlotte, NC
    9. Rapper’s Delight@& 1/24/2016 – The Pour House, Raleigh, NC
    10. Intergalactic*~ 1/20/2016 – The Whiskey, Wilmington, NC
    11. Big Pimpin’* 1/24/2016 – The Pour House, Raleigh, NC
    12. Hip Hop Hooray* 1/28/2016 – Buffington’s, Milledgeville, GA
    13. This Is How We Do It#* 1/30/2016 – Aisle 5, Atlanta, GA
    14. Hot In Herre@? 1/30/2016 – Aisle 5, Atlanta, GA

    *w/Scott Hannay on vocals
    $w/Atticus Kelly of McLovins on keys
    ^w/ScottHannay on keytar
    %w/Mike Candela on vocals
    +w/Justin Berger of McLovins on guitar
    @w/Jake Huffman of McLovins on vocals
    &w/Jason Ott of McLovins on bass
    ~w/Scott Hannay on vocoder
    #w/Matt Pickering on vocals
    ?w/Mister McManagers trio (Mike Dean, David Limentani, Nick Sonsini) on backup singing/dancing

  • Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz Brings New Meaning to PB&J

    Plattsburgh residents can rejoice in drawing clever new meaning from the acronym PB&J. Starting Feb. 12, prominent music photographer Laura Carbone, in partnership with 30 City Foundation and Shen Marketing Solutions, will spotlight award-winning musical talent with Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz.

    PB&JThe music series will supply a rich diversity of blues and jazz styles, ranging from southern bayou roots to funk-infused soul. Those looking to diversify their musical interests or support time-tested favorites have a sparkling opportunity to witness world-class entertainment in a small city nestled in northern New York between Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.

    Performances will transpire every three to four weeks, with artists scheduled through mid-April. Those already booked for PB&J’s inaugural year include Swampcandy, Biscuit Miller and the Mix, the Slam Allen Band, JP Soars and the Redhots and John Nemeth. Tickets range between $12 and $15, with proceeds circulating right back into the musical flow to fund artists and to continue drawing inspiring talent to the Plattsburgh area.

    The series promises to add extra flair to the Plattsburgh music scene, providing reliable, top-notch entertainment for locals, but also a worthy reason for out-of-towners to make Plattsburgh their next day-trip destination. Most shows will take place at Champlain Wine Company located at 30 City Hall Place. Tickets can be purchased through 30City, their online music and arts forum.