NYS Music 20​16

Tag: SPAC

  • Phish Embarks on Summer Tour 2016

    Phish embarks on their 2016 summer tour tomorrow when they take the stage at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota for their first show of the year on American soil since January 2. Phans across the country will rejoice as the Vermont quartet plays a series of shows at some of their most beloved venues, including the Gorge, the Mann, SPAC, Bill Graham and Dick’s; as well as making some notable debuts at Wrigley Field and the Lockn’ Music and Arts Festival.

    As if the type II jams and deep collective musical voyages aren’t enough, there’s tons of fun stuff to check out beyond when Phish is on stage. In Chicago, Galerie F will be showcasing Jim Pollock’s art – including never before seen sketches, posters and other original pieces. Similarly, Masthay Studios will open their doors in Hartford prior to the Phish show to show fans where the magic happens.

    There will be a series of strong after parties including Pink Talking Phish at the Mezzanine in San Francisco, Assembly of Dust at Martyr’s in Chicago, Jazz Is Phish at the House of Blues Chicago, and an abundance of musical happenings at Nanola Malta, just 10 minutes from SPAC, including pre-show festivities with Hayley Jane and the Primates, and a Sunday brunch with Holly Bowling and appearances from Mister F, The McLovins and more. Additionally there will be a James Brown Dance Party aftershow in Philly. PhanArt will be hosting a series of art shows in Chicago and San Francisco as well, bringing together a rapidly expanding fan base of art aficionados.

    One thing that’s for certain, is there are a lot of moving parts to Phish tour and it’s not all about the music the Vermont quartet makes on stage. It’s about a umbrella of a community where you’ll find so much love and excitement. It’s about exploring new places, trying new things, stepping outside of your comfort zone and reuniting with old friends that you may only see once a year while simultaneously making new connections. There are a lot of exciting things coming out of the band’s camp, including the free sampler Live Bait 12 where every single track clocks in at double digits and the recent release of the third edition of The Phish Companion benefiting the Mockingbird Foundation, available at the PhanArt show this Saturday in Chicago.

    As for the band, things couldn’t look more promising before hitting the road; especially since they’ve presumably finished recording a new album with Bob Ezrin in Nashville. Armed with a fresh stable of new material, it’s safe to say we can expect some debuts and several new launching pads for deep improvisation.

    2016 has been a rough year so far with the losses of musical icons such as David Bowie, Merle Haggard and Prince so it will be interesting to see if Phish takes a swing at any of their musical catalogs. In recent years Phish has come more into their element than ever before in the 3.0 era. Now that all of the members are in their early 50s, they seem to have a grasp on the intrinsic connection they all share after being friends for all of these years. They seem more comfortable, happy, appreciative and healthy than ever before and it is certainly reflected in their music. Chris Kuroda is also rumored to be working with a new light rig that’s unlike anything he’s ever used in the past. There is a multi-panel design that will be suspended above the band and there appears to be three large LED panels encapsulating the members on stage. It looks like the perfect stepping stone to some extensive and deep psychedelic visual experiences.

    One thing to be expected is the unexpected. Phish hates being predictable and if everything goes off without a hitch this could be one of the best tours in the post-Hampton era. The build up certainly makes it seem that this tour will be a success right out of the gates. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, lets get this show on the road.

  • 50 Years of SPAC: Mumford & Sons Sells Out Saratoga’s Historic Venue

    Mumford & Sons brought an eclectic, sold-out show to Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, June 15, making it the first sold-out show of SPAC’s 50th season. The band’s set covered predominantly songs from their 2015 album Wilder Mind, while also throwing in hits from their more folk-influenced debut Sigh No More.

    Mumford & Sons opened with “Snake Eyes,” soon after followed by “Little Lion Man,” bringing the entirety of the audience to their feet. As Marcus Mumford sang the chorus, it was often difficult to discern his voice from the shouts of the crowd singing along.  The audience continued singing and standing through the close of “Little Lion Man,” into “Below My Feet,” off the band’s second album Babel.

    Marcus Mumford was energetic and engaged throughout: perhaps most impressively, he often swapped from playing guitar to drums, such as in “Lover of the Light.” Between songs, the band sparingly addressed the crowd, occasionally invoking some humor by bringing up topics such as the Euros.

    In the middle of the set, the band was joined on stage by Senegalese performer Baaba Maal, who sang two songs with Mumford & Sons. Maal took the vocals on “Si tu veux,” and then swapped vocals, singing with Mumford on “There Will Be Time.” The audience was less engaged during this portion of the set, perhaps from not yet knowing the songs, but most remained standing throughout.

    “The Cave” soon followed Maal’s exit, capturing the crowd fully, again making Mumford’s voice hard to discern from the singing along. As “The Cave” blended into “Ditmas,” Mumford left the stage to run up the aisles and through the lawn, before returning for “Dust Bowl Dance,” once again taking up the drums, as sparks poured down behind the band.

    The band played a four song encore, joined again by Baaaba Maal,” before closing with “I Will Wait,” and “The Wolf.”

    While many older songs such as “Little Lion Man,” “The Cave,” “White Blank Page,” and “Dust Bowl Dance” received the most prominent singing along and ovations, reactions to new songs such as “The Wolf” and “Ditmas” demonstrated that fans are still committed to Mumford & Sons evolving sound.

    Johannesburg, a five-track collaborative “mini album” with Baaba Maal, recorded during the band’s 2016 South African tour, was released June 17.

    Set list: Snake Eyes, Little Lion Man, Below My Feet, Monster, White Blank Page, Lover of the Light, Tompkins Square Park, Believe, Ghosts That We Knew, Si tu veux (with Baaba Maal), There Will Be Time (with Baaba Maal), The Cave, Ditmas, Dust Bowl Dance

    Encore: Hot Gates, Wona (with Baaba Maal), I Will Wait, The Wolf

  • Nanola Announces Schedule for Phish SPAC Pre and Post-Parties

    Looking for your pre- and post-show plans during Phish’s run at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 1 through 3? NYS Music and Nanola have you fully covered.

    The Capital Region’s own Mister F will host three nights of pre-shows and after-parties at Nanola in Malta to keep the fun going long after the lots have cleared after Phish each night. You can even take a shuttle to and from SPAC, just a short 10-minute ride from Nanola to SPAC.

    Friday’s after-party starts with Mister F at 12 a.m. and Lespecial at 2:15 a.m. Saturday’s pre-party features Hayley Jane and the Primates at 4 p.m., and Mister F is on again at 12 a.m. following the show, with Strange Machines hitting the stage at 2:15 a.m. Sunday’s pre-party has Mister F on at 4 p.m. and The McLovins closing out the weekend with an after-party beginning at 12 a.m.

    In addition to these pre- and post-shows, Nanola will be offering a $13 brunch buffet on Sunday, July 3, for Holly Bowling‘s performance. Reservations are recommended for table service and can be made by calling 518-587-1300.

    All pre-parties are free, with each nightly show costing $10. Shuttles are also $10, and a combo pass including all shuttles and after-shows is $50. You can pick up tickets here.

    Nanola features a full bar, great beer selection and traditional pub fare in addition to creole favorites like jambalaya, oysters and po’ boys.

  • NYS Music presents Phish SPAC after-parties with Mister F and friends

    Part of the fun in attending a Phish show is often the plans we make for the before and after parties. For those heading to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 1 to 3 to see the boys, you’re now completely covered.

    The Capital Region’s own Mister F will host three nights of after-parties at Nanola in Malta to keep the fun going long after Phish’s encore. Shuttles will be available to and from SPAC – a quick 10-minute ride.

    20160510-phish-spac-after-party-Mister-F

    Mister F recently welcomed Mike Candela as new guitarist to a band that formed in 2013 from regional acts Timbre Coup and Capital Zen.

    While a schedule is to be determined, they will be joined by the McLovins, Lespecial, Strange Machines and Hayley Jane and the Primates.

    Presented by NYS Music, the bread to this Phish sandwich includes pre-parties on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3.

    Nanola features a full bar, great beer selection and traditional pub fare in addition to creole favorites like jambalaya, oysters and po’ boys.

    Tickets are available in a variety of options. Shows are $10 per night. Shuttles are also $10. A combo pass including all shuttles and after shows is $50.

    Additional details including the daily schedule and ticket information will be announced soon.

  • Saratoga Performing Arts Center 50th Summer Lineup

    The state’s premier outdoor concert venue is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer as Saratoga Performing Arts Center kicks off its golden anniversary concert season with the fourth running of the SPAC Rock and Run, which offers 5k, 10k and half marathon distances, on May 15. Albany-area siblings Jocelyn and Chris Arndt, who were breakout artists at last fall’s Utica Music and Arts Festival, will perform as part of the SPAC Rock and Run Races.

    Once the music takes over, highlights this season include a three-night run from Phish July 1 to 3 and a double bill of Dave Matthews Band July 15 and 16. Dead and Company pay a visit to SPAC June 21 with John Mayer laying down Jerry’s licks, and Mumford and Sons bring their electric brand of folk to a sold-out show on June 15.

    The annual Freihofers Saratoga Jazz Festival, featuring headliner Smokey Robinson in addition to three 2016 Grammy Award winners, Jon Cleary, Christian McBride, and Eliane Elias, takes place June 25 and 26.

    SPAC’s long-time resident the Philadelphia Orchestra takes up its annual residency beginning Aug. 3, and the New York City Ballet brings 16 ballet performances throughout July.

    Saratoga Performing Arts Center 2016 Pop/Rock Schedule:

    June 11 – Dixie Chicks
    June 15 – Mumford and Sons
    June 21 – Dead and Company
    July 1 – Phish
    July 2 – Phish
    July 3 – Phish
    July 5 – Journey, The Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason
    July 10 – Steely Dan with Steve Winwood
    July 12 – Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin with Alter Bridge and Saint Asonia
    July 13 – Tedeschi Trucks Band with Los Lobos and North Mississippi Allstars
    July 15 – Dave Matthews Band
    July 16 – Dave Matthews Band
    July 24 – Slipknot with Marilyn Manson and Of Mice and Men
    July 25 – Josh Groban with Sarah McLachlan
    July 26 – Janet Jackson
    Sept. 3 – Zac Brown Band with Drake White and the Big Fire
    Sept. 8 – Heart with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Cheap Trick

    https://youtu.be/pJ9Hmy3fPK8

  • 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

  • SPAC Jazz Fest Announces Lineup, Tickets On Sale

    As of 10 a.m. today, tickets for the 39th annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival are on sale to the public. The two-day weekend event is scheduled for June 25 and 26 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

    spac jazz fest ticketsThe festival’s 2016 lineup will feature Motown miracle Smokey Robinson and jazz fusion pioneer Chick Corea headlining the SPAC mainstage on Sunday, while Saturday’s headliner is still to be announced.

    Several acts performing this year will make their SPAC and jazz festival debut, including drummer and vocalist Jamison Ross, blues guitarist Eric Lindell, 12-year-old Indonesian jazz pianist Joey Alexander Trio, New Orleans funk ensemble, Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, and jazz-soul vocalist Alicia Olatuja, who performed at the 2013 presidential inauguration. Last year’s showcase included Sheila E., Erykah Badu and Snarky Puppy, among others, and since the festival was founded in 1978, jazz greats like Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, B.B. King and Ray Charles have headlined the event.

    Celebrating 50 years, the 25,000-capacity venue sits in the historic Saratoga Spa State Park. Camping is not permitted on the grounds (free parking opens two hours before the event), but the town of Saratoga offers many options for nearby lodging. The typical concert rules apply for SPAC — no drugs, open water bottles, guns or pets — but for the jazz festival, the venue does allow food, alcohol, coolers and the use of small personal cameras.

    Festival goers can also shop fine arts and crafts on premise, bring home autographed CDs and fill up on Southern-style barbecue, plus other amenities. Stay tuned for jazz fest to announce the June 25 headliner.