NYS Music 20​17

Author: Chad Vergine

  • Madison Theater to Close for Cleaning, Potential Sale

    In a recent Times Union article, the 88-year-old Madison Theater in Albany, will close January 1 for an extensive wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling cleaning and improvements.

    Founder and president of Tierra Farm, Gunther Fishgold, who owns the Madison Theater and its two connected businesses hinted at two potential buyers for the property. The two potential independent interested parties plan to keep the Madison a theater. There is some talk that one of the interested players will make the venue into a “mixed community space” for live performances. Tierra will announce any potential deal near the end of January.

    Fishgold commented on the upcoming potential sale, “I really can’t be specific, but I have a couple of interesting deals in front of me that would keep the integrity of the theater and be much more responsive to the community.”

    The Madison opened in 1929. Tierra purchased the building in Sept. 2013. The company spent over a million dollars on a new outside marquee along with several other exterior and interior upgrades.

    Keeping the integrity of the historic movie venue is important to Fishgold, which almost became a CVS Pharmacy drive-through in 2004. He said Tierra’s main objective was to always save and preserve the historic place more than making money. He stated, “It’s not a money-maker. It’s never been a money-maker for me … It really was a placeholder for someone who could come in and do a better job than we could, as a nut-and-fruit company running a theater.”

    Fishgold also talked about the possibility of what would happen if both potential deals fell through. He said he would figure out a way to continue to operate the venue and may lease parts of the building, rather than try to operate several different businesses under the same umbrella. When talking about the other businesses attached to the building, Fishgold said: “Someone’s gonna run a better coffee shop than I run. Someone’s gonna run a better restaurant than I run. No one’s gonna run a better nut business than me, but all three of those – theater, restaurant and coffee shop – can be done much better. It’s such a thriving neighborhood. I’m not doing it justice.”

    Asked whether he would just abandon the venue: “No, I don’t want to leave the community high and dry after all I did to this space. And I won’t, I won’t.”

  • Fozzy to Invade Upstate Concert Hall

    After a small break from touring, Fozzy will pack the road gear and continue the band’s “Judas Rising,” tour into 2018 at Upstate Concert Hall. Fozzy is touring in support of the band’s seventh studio album, Judas. The title track of the album, “Judas,” has become a huge hit for the band, blowing up rock radio stations everywhere.

    Part two of the “Judas Rising” tour will see support by Through Fire, Santa Cruz, and Dark Star Choir.

    New Orleans will get the tour started at the Parish on Feb. 28 and see the “Lights Go Out” on April 8 at Wally’s in Hampton Beach, NH. One of the two New York dates on the tour will come through the Capital Region. Fozzy will make a stop at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on April 4, then the next night on April 5 at the the Gramercy Theatre in NYC. Tickets to the UCH show cost $17 in advance. Fozzy die-hards can also purchase a $150 VIP upgrade to each show on the tour.

    In a recent Blabbermouth article, frontman Chris Jericho, and guitarist Rich Ward gave their opinions on the upcoming “Judas Rising,” tour.

    Jericho stated: “I’m stoked to do this extensive tour of the States now that ‘Judas,’ the song, is a Top 5 rock radio hit and ‘Judas’, the album, has gone top 40! FOZZY is bigger than we’ve ever been, which means bigger production, bigger songs and bigger lighted jackets! So we can’t wait to rock your literal socks off starting in February!! JUDAS IS RISING.”

    Rich Ward added: “I started playing guitar because of how deeply powerful the experience of going to concerts was for me. With a hit single and a new album pushing FOZZY to new heights, I can’t wait to get back on the road in America to capture the power that only live music can create. Make sure to bring a helmet and your dancing shoes when FOZZY rolls through your town.”

    Fozzy “Judas Rising” Tour Dates:

    Feb. 28 – The Parish – New Orleans, LA
    March 1 – Scout Bar – Houston, TX
    March 2 – Canton Hall – Dallas, TX
    March 3 – Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
    March 4 – Speaking Rock – El Paso, TX
    March 7 – Club X’s – Tucson, AZ
    March 8 – Marquee Theater – Phoenix, AZ
    March 10 – The Whisky – Los Angeles, CA
    March 11 – Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV
    March 13 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
    March 15 – Dante’s – Portland, OR
    March 16 – Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
    March 27 – Turner Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
    March 28 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
    March 29 – Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
    March 30 – Shelter – Detroit, MI
    March 31 – Oddbody’s – Dayton, OH
    April 2 – House Of Blues – Cleveland, OH
    April 3 – Jergel’s – Pittsburgh, PA
    April 4 – Upstate Concert Hall – Clifton Park, NY
    April 5 – The Gramercy – New York, NY
    April 6 – The Foundry – Philadelphia, PA
    April 7 – Aura – Portland, ME
    April 8 – Wally’s – Hampton Beach, NH

  • Rock on the Range 2018 Lineup Announced

    Rangers, the lineup is here. The 12th annual Rock on the Range has announced all of the artist that will appear at the three day festival starting May 18-20, 2018 in Columbus, OH, at MAPFRE Stadium.

    Nearly 60 bands will perform over three days headled by Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, and Alice In Chains. Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenen will not only appear with Tool, his other band, A Perfect Circle, will also appear sometime during the festival.

    Daily lineups are yet to be announced but other artists scheduled to appear among the three stages the include Godsmack, Stone Sour, Breaking Benjamin,Three Days Grace, Stone Temple Pilots, Bullet For My Valentine, Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, I Prevail, Greta Van Fleet, Trivium, 10 Years, From Ashes To New, Like A Storm, Shaman’s Harvest, and Stitched Up Heart to name a few.

    In a recent Blabbermouth article, Avenged Sevenfold frontman, M. Shadows, commented on headlining ROTR. He stated:

    Rock On The Range is the undisputed champion of American rock festivals. The team over there has done an incredible job of curating a potent mix of all the types of rock ‘n roll that any fan could ask for. It’s an honor to play at the top of the bill, and we cannot wait to see everyone in May.

    Several ticket packages have already sold out, with several options to choose from still available, but  they won’t last for long as ROTR seems to sell out quicker each year. Weekend passes include Field VIP – $349 plus fees, Field General Admission – $299.50 plus fees, and Stadium General Admission – $149.50.

    Uber Ranger camping packages are available while supplies last along with bronze, silver, gold, and diamond hotel packages. For more information, visit the festival website here.

  • Brian Johnson Says Goodbye to Friend, Bandmate, Malcolm Young

    As our favorite legendary artists grow older, its only inevitable, that one day we will hear the sad news that one has passed away. Sadly, AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young will join several other legendary artists at the “Music Festival in Heaven.”

    Longtime bandmate, friend, and AC/DC frontman, Brian Johnson, posted a statement on his website about the passing of Young titled, “For 32 years, we stood side by side on stage.” His letter stated:

    I am saddened by the passing of my friend Malcolm Young, I can’t believe he’s gone.
    We had such great times on the road.
    I was always aware that he was a genius on guitar, his riffs have become legend, as has he.
    I send out my love and sympathy to his wife Linda, his children Cara and Ross,
    and Angus, who will all be devastated…. as we all are.
    He has left a legacy that I don’t think many can match.
    He never liked the celebrity side of fame, he was too humble for that.
    He was the man who created AC/DC because he said “there was no Rock,n,Roll” out there.
    I am proud to have known him and call him a friend, and I’m going to miss him so much.
    I salute you, Malcolm Young.
    – Brain Johnson, November 2017

    Malcolm Young passed away on Nov. 18 at the age of 64, after suffering from dementia for the past few years. He formed AC/DC with his brother Angus in 1973. Besides playing guitar, Malcolm was a producer and songwriter, who help create some of the biggest rock and roll anthems in history, such as “Hells Bells,” “Back In Black,” “Highway To Hell,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” to name a few. He retired from the band in Sept. 2014, after being diagnosed with dementia in April 2014. Young and his AC/DC bandmates have sold over 110 million albums, are were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

    Rolling Stone posted several comments from various artist, once the news of Malcolm’s death started to circulate throughout the music industry including Eddie Van Halen, Nancy Wilson and Slash. You can read those comments below:

    Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band): “Malcolm was the essential rhythm guitarist of the world’s greatest working class hard rock band. An irreplaceable loss.”

    Slash (Guns N’ Roses): “Malcolm Young was one of the best ever rhythm guitarists in rock and roll. He was a fantastic songwriter and he had a great work ethic too. I toured with AC/DC on their ‘Stiff Upper Lip’ tour. I found Malcolm to be a really cool, down to earth fellow. The entire rock and roll community is heartbroken by his passing.”

    Nancy Wilson (Heart) “Malcom Young was the embodiment of rock itself. His rhythm guitar style needed no embellishment. He laid down the simple solid guitar truth that taught us all about the ‘less is more ethic.’ The wild power of simplicity and the head banging hair flipping joys of turning it up really loud and dancing with the vibrations. Thank you, Malcom for being the real deal. We are all going to miss that shredding music that only you and your brother could make together.”

    Eddie Van Halen: “It is a sad day in rock and roll. Malcolm Young was my friend and the heart and soul of AC/DC. I had some of the best times of my life with him on our 1984 European tour. He will be missed and my deepest condolences to his family, bandmates and friends.”

    Dave Mustaine: “I have to go…I am losing it that Malcolm is gone. I hate this…” Kiss’ Paul Stanley added, “The driving engine of AC/DC has died. A tragic end for a sometimes unsung icon. One of the true greats. RIP.” Tom Morello praised Young as “#1 greatest rhythm guitarist in the entire history of rock n roll.”

    https://youtu.be/evqsl8smnYE

  • Vans Warped Tour Coming to an End

    They say all good things, come to an end, and with the recent post on the Vans Warped Tour social media pages, it looks like the multi-genre tour will end and make its final cross-country run in 2018 after 23 years of touring the festival.

    The final nail in the coffin will take place in 2019, where organizers of the tour stated that the 2019, 25th Anniversary edition, will  be the end, and will be a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history, not a tour.

    A picture posted on the tour’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages with a quote from Warped Tour creator Kevin Lyman stated, “Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year, will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour.” Once the news posted, fans began commenting on the news with memories, speculation, wise remarks and anger, which prompted Vans to respond.

    Some fans who commented on the news, received a reply from Warped Tour. In response to one fan who said the tour will run a couple more years with limited dates, Warped Tour stated:

    The 25th anniversary small celebration in 2019 will 100% be the end – but we are working to make this year’s full tour an awesome one!

    When another concerned fan asked if the tour would in fact still run with very limited dates, Warped Tour responded:

    2018 will be the FINAL tour we are working to make sure this 2018 cross-country tour is one to remember. The 25th anniversary celebration in 2019 will NOT be a tour, but a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history.

    In response to a concert-goer who said the tour ending was sad, asked why it was ending. Warped Tour replied:

    Right now, we are working to make sure this 2018 cross-country tour is one to remember. The 25th anniversary will not be a full cross-country tour, but it will be a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history. We simply don’t know more details on the 25th anniversary celebration yet – our team is working hard on the 2018 tour first

    It will be sad to see this tour go because the Vans Warped tour is a special kind of tour that gives several upcoming artists a platform to get their feet wet playing live shows and touring across the country. Many of those artists have made a name for themselves in the music industry since their first appearance on the tour, with many returning to headline one of the various stages the tour offered. Some of those artists include Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, Beartooth, Motionless in White and many more.

    Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, posted an extensive response on the situation through Warped Tour’s website. He stated:

    I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour. Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour. I sit here reflecting on the tour’s incredible history, what the final run means for our community, and look forward to what’s to come as we commemorate the tour’s historic 25th anniversary in 2019.

    In 1995, I had already worked many years in the music business, including spending four summers on the Lollapalooza tour, and I thought, ‘for one summer I would like go out and put on my own show’ mixing music and action sports. With the support of so many people, I have now spent the last 23 summers bringing that show to a city near you. We have brought that show to over 11 million people around the world and watched that same world change while doing so.

    I have been proud to work with so many artists who have grown to be some of the largest stars in the world. Countless bands have played in hot parking lots and through summer storms for you at some point.

    Bands like Quicksand, Sublime, L7, No Use for A Name and No Doubt jumped on in the very first year.

    Touring many summers with my friends and peers like – Pennywise, Social Distortion, NOFX, Bad Religion, The Descendents, Less Than Jake, Dropkick Murphys, The Bouncing Souls, Rancid, Flogging Molly, Anti-Flag and The Offspring are just some of my fondest memories. More include, having Blink-182 travel on my bus in 1997 when the world opened up to them and made them the superstars they are today.

    The Vans Warped Tour was the platform to witness the rise of pop punk with Sum 41, Simple Plan, MXPX, New Found Glory and Good Charlotte.

    The birth of Emo – with bands like Thrice, Thursday, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, The Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World.

    Fast-forward to the summer in 2005 when TRL and Warped Tour helped launch the careers of Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Avenged Sevenfold.

    I witnessed Warped alumni like The Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, No Doubt and even Kid Rock play the Super Bowl. I’ve even had the pleasure of seeing Green Day play the Rose Bowl.

    More recently, I’ve watched bands start out on a small stage and work their way up to the main stages by meeting as many fans as possible and continuing to hone their craft while on the tour. Bands like Paramore, A Day To Remember, Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil, Echosmith, Motionless in White, Black Veil Brides, Every Time I Die, Neck Deep, Beartooth and so many more.

    What has always made me proud was when I read that Warped was the most diverse show of the summer where you could find Eminem and Ice-T on the same stages as Sevendust, Pennywise, and 7 Seconds.

    I am so grateful to have worked with more than 1,700 bands over the last 23 summers. I wish I could thank every band that has played the tour.

    The Vans Warped Tour has become the community I had always hoped for. We have worked with over 90 non-profits each summer shining a light on new and growing groups giving our community the resources they need to connect with people who can help them, but also encourages our community to help each other. To Write Love on Her Arms, Music Saves Lives, Feed The Children Now, Keep a Breast, Hope For The Day, Canvas Foundation, Living The Dream and A Voice for the Innocent have built their organizations from the Warped Tour parking lots across the country. This even inspired me to start my own foundation Unite the United.

    The work we do each summer on “give back days” has become part of our DNA. My brain is etched with the image of the church ladies after Katrina serving beans and rice to The Casualties with their upright mohawks, finding a common ground where no one was judging anyone. Then finding out the only working business in the county seemed to be the moonshine still and the locals showing up with a crate to share with the crew later that evening.

    The long hot days that ended around a BBQ with food, drink and more music are some of the best times. Enjoying the days off, taking people jet boating, house boating, river rafting and sometimes even skydiving. I witnessed lifelong friendships being made, sparks of romance that led to ‘Warped weddings,’ and unfortunately now, more notices of passings where a proper good bye was not able to be said.

    I want to thank my supportive family who has been through the highs and lows, Darryl Eaton at CAA, Steve Van Doren and Vans, Kate, Julie, Allison and Steph. My hard ass working crew who puts that show up and down each day, the sponsors which without them this tour would not happen, the bands and their crews, the promoters who took a risk on us at the beginning and continue to be supportive.

    It will be bittersweet each morning when I see the sun rise and then watch it set knowing that this will be the last time I get to witness it from that exact spot.

    Though the tour and the world have changed since ’95, the same feeling of having the ‘best summer ever’ will live on through the bands, the production teams, and the fans that come through at every stop.

    The enduring spirit of the Vans Warped Tour remains as bright as ever, continuing to inspire creativity and ambition in new and exciting ways as we prepare for a 25th anniversary celebration in 2019.

    I truly look forward to seeing as many of you as possible during this final cross country run, and getting to thank you for your support on this wild adventure. Until then, take care and be safe.   – Kevin Lyman (Founder of the Vans Warped Tour)

    Warped will hit the road for the last time on June 21 in Pomona, CA, and end on Aug. 5 in West Palm Beach, FL. New York will see two stops on the final run.  Darien Lake will host the festival on July 25 and Wantagh’s Jones Beach Amphitheater on July 28.  Artists are still to be determined and will be announced in early 2018.

  • Great Blue Releases New Album, to Play the Java Barn in Canton Thursday

    Connecticut rock power trio, Great Blue have hit the road for the first leg of their tour in support of the band’s new self titled album, Great Blue. The first portion of the tour will see the band travel for two months throughout the eastern U.S., hitting 20 different cities. Great Blue is planning a second leg of the tour and currently working out the details for that run.

    The tour kicked off on Oct. 27 at the Centre Street Pub in Schenectady and will conclude at home, on Nov. 25, at the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT. New Yorkers can catch Great Blue play one more show on the first leg in N.Y. state at the Java Barn in Canton.

    Rocking together for 10 years, Great Blue is made up of Peter Anspach (guitar/bass), Nick Hanna (drums), and Ethan Michael (guitar/bass). The band’s new self titled album was mastered by 13-time Emmy winner, Andy Gundell. The band has recently released the music video for their new song “Seeker.” Great Blue’s style of music has the melodies, grooves, and riffs to keep the energy electrifying and crowds moving.

    Remaining Great Blue Tour Dates:

    Oct. 31 – Zenbarn – Waterbury, VT
    Nov. 2 – The Java Barn – Canton, NY
    Nov. 4 – The Pompei Lounge – Staunton, VA
    Nov. 7 – The Local – Boone, NC
    Nov. 8 – The Nick – Birmingham, AL
    Nov. 9 – Green Bar – Tuscaloosa, AL
    Nov. 10 – Congress Street Social –
    Nov. 11 – Palmetto Brewing Co. – Charleston, SC
    Nov. 13 – Preservation Pub – Knoxville, TN
    Nov. 14 – Nowhere Bar – Athens, GA
    Nov. 16 – Isis Music Hall Lounge – Asheville, NC
    Nov. 17 – The Whiskey – Wilmington, NC
    Nov. 18 – Surf Bar – Folly Beach, SC
    Nov. 19 – Tiki Hut – Hilton Head Island, GA
    Nov. 20 – Cary St. Café – Richmond, VA
    Nov. 24 – La Boca – Middletown, CT
    Nov. 25 – Arch Street Tavern – Hartford, CT

  • ‘Weird Al’ Tones It Down for 2018 Tour, Several NY Dates Included

    Everyone’s favorite parody musician will once again hit the road, as “Weird Al” Yankovic, has announced dates for an extensive tour of North America in 2018. Yankovic has recently wrapped up one of his biggest tours ever and will return in 2018 with his 70+ city “The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour.” Longtime friend and comedian Emo Phillips, will perform before “Weird Al” takes stage.

    Weird Al 2018Shows will take place in venues with a more intimate feel, and create a little different atmosphere than normal “Weird Al” shows. Yankovic has stated that he and his band will perform original material, rarities, and deep cuts. “Weird Al” will perform songs he and his band haven’t played in years, and songs they have never before played live. He also stated that he and his band have been rehearsing around 60 songs for the trek, and each show on the tour will have a different set list.  Unfortunately, there won’t be any costume changes or running and jumping around by “Weird Al,” as he and the band will sit on stools, and jam out songs for around 90 minutes.

    “Weird Al,” has released 14 studio albums. Four of those fourteen albums reached gold status, while six others reached platinum certifications, including 1984’s “Weird Al” Yankovic in 3-D. He has also won four Grammy awards in his career including Best Concept Music Video for the song “Fat,” in 1989. He has sold over 12 million albums, and has appeared in numerous television shows and on the big screen.

    The tour will kick off on Feb. 27, at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie. New York will see several other stops on the tour throughout the state, including March 1 at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown; March 13 at the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts in Buffalo; March 14 at the State Theatre in Ithaca; March 17 at The Paramount in Huntington; and March 23 at The Apollo Theater in New York.

    During a recent interview with Nerdist, “Weird Al” commented on the upcoming tour, his longevity, Emo Phillips and what he hopes fans take away from the tour. “Weird Al” was also asked about his stamina, he replied:

    I’ve definitely had time to relax, reconnect with my family, even take a shower! But yeah, when I’m on the road, it’s pretty exhausting–I get a real workout every night. This upcoming tour shouldn’t be too taxing though. We’re just going to walk out on stage, sit down on stools and play a bunch of songs. No running and jumping around, or changing into thirty different costumes. It’ll be a little rougher on my vocal cords, because I won’t have any video breaks during the show. But the whole vibe of this next tour is going to be pretty laid back. It’s the “Let’s Not Work Up Too Much of a Sweat” tour.

    What he’s looking forward to the most about the tour:

    The band and I are really just looking forward to a change of pace. I’ve been putting on fat suits and riding Segways around the stage, and I just wanted to do something totally different this time out. I don’t think I’ll be making a habit of this: this is quite possibly a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It’ll also be really fun for me to play some of the songs that I was always proud of, but somehow slipped through the cracks. There are only so many songs I can perform in my live show, and the parodies are the audience-pleasers, so we have to focus on those, and as a result, a lot of my original material never makes the cut. But this is not an audience-pleasing show. It’s probably going to be an audience-baffling show. As I’ve said before, there’s a subset of my fan base that’s going to go absolutely nuts for this tour, but it might not be for everybody.

    If he was nervous touring a different type of show for the first time around:

    Well, I wasn’t really nervous until you just brought it up! Yeah, I always get a little nervous right before a tour, and particularly when I’m doing something new. And this tour is extremely different from every other tour I’ve done. I guess I just have to go into it with a good attitude. I know it’s not going to be perfect… it’s not supposed to be perfect. All my other shows were rigidly planned down to the second, and on this tour, we’re literally doing a different set list every night. I’m going to talk a lot more on stage. See, this is really going against my nature and stepping out of my comfort zone. I’m the kind of guy that likes to have everything super-planned out and over-rehearsed and always know exactly what I’m going to do and say. On this tour, I’m just going to walk out on stage and see what happens. It could suck; it could be amazing. That’s a little terrifying to think about… so… I’m going to stop thinking about it.

    On what he hopes fans will bring home from seeing this show:

    Primarily, lots of MERCH. That would be good. Besides that… this tour is geared specifically for the long-time hardcore fans, so I just hope that some of them get their minds blown by hearing some obscure old favorite songs that they never dreamed they’d ever get a chance to hear live. And we’re really pulling out the deep cuts for this show. We’re rehearsing 50 or 60 songs, most of which we’ve either never played live before, or haven’t played in decades. It’s a lot of work. I’d also like to think that, since this show will be comprised almost entirely of my original songs, it might shine a light on the fact that I’ve done some decent non-parody material over the last three decades. But hey, I’m not kidding myself – I know that to 95% of the general population, I’ll always just be the “Eat It” guy.

    How it feels to tour with his longtime friend Emo Phillips:

    I’m really looking forward to that. Emo’s one of my oldest friends, and I think he’s seriously one of the funniest guys in the world. I’ve never traveled with a support act before. For a long time, promoters would hire local comedians to open the show. We never knew anything about them before we got there. Some were good, some were not so good, and some were totally inappropriate. And then, when our show length passed the two-hour mark, we decided to eschew the opening act entirely and make it an “Evening With Al.” But we’re going to try not to bust anybody’s bladder on this tour: Emo’s doing about 30 minutes, and I’m doing about 90. It’ll be really fun; I always have a good time with him, and it’ll be a blast riding a bus with him for 15 weeks. I just hope he doesn’t snore, or perform daily ritual sacrifices or anything. Eh, whatever, I’m sure I’d get used to it.

    The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour Dates:

    Feb. 27 – Bardavon 1869 Opera House – Poughkeepsie, NY
    March 1 – Tarrytown Music Hall – Tarrytown, NY
    March 2 – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Ledyard, CT
    March 3 – The Music Hall – Portsmouth, NH
    March 4 – Wilbur Theatre – Boston, MA
    March 7 – Place Des Arts – Montreal, QC
    March 9 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
    March 10 – 20 Monroe Live – Grand Rapids, MI
    March 11 – Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor, MI
    March 13 – University At Buffalo Center for the Arts – Buffalo, NY
    March 14 – State Theatre – Ithaca, NY
    March 16 – Caesars Atlantic City – Circus Maximus – Atlantic City, NJ
    March 17 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY
    March 18 – American Music Theatre – Lancaster, PA
    March 20 – Music Center at Strathmore – Bethesda, MD
    March 23 – Apollo Theater – New York, NY
    March 24 – Palace Theatre – Greensburg, PA
    March 25 – Playhouse Square – Ohio Theatre – Cleveland OH
    March 26 – Lexington Opera House – Lexington, KY
    March 28 – Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts – Louisville, KY
    March 30 – Virginia Theatre – Champaign, IL
    March 31 – Hoyt Sherman Place – Des Moines, IA
    April 2 – Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall – Rochester – MN
    April 3 – Pantages Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
    April 4 – Pantages Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
    April 6 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
    April 7 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
    April 10 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
    April 12 – Honeywell Center – Wabash, IN
    April 13 – Walker Theater – Chattanooga, TN
    April 14 – Miller Theater – Augusta, GA
    April 15 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
    April 17 – War Memorial – Nashville, TN
    April 19 – Gillioz Theatre – Springfield, MO
    April 20 – S.E.Belcher Jr Chapel and Performance Center – Longview, TX
    April 21 – Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX
    April 22 – Wagner Noel Performance Arts Center – Midland, TX
    April 24 – tafford Centre for Performing Arts Theatre – Stafford, TX
    April 25 – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts – San Antonio, TX
    April 27 – The Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX
    April 28 – Orpheum Theater – Wichita, KS
    April 29 – Folly Theater – Kansas City, MO
    May 1 – Paramount Theatre – Denver, CO
    May 3 – Avalon Theatre – Grand Junction, CO
    May 4 – Tuacahn Ampitheatre at Tuacahn Center for the Arts – Ivins, UT
    May 5 – Fox Tucson Theatre – Tuscon, AZ
    May 6 – Lensic Performing Arts Center – Senta Fe, NM
    May 8 – Meza Arts Center- Ikeda Theatre – Mesa, AZ
    May 9 – McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts – Palm Desert, CA
    May 11 – The Theatre at Ace Hotel – Los Angeles, CA
    May 12 – Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay – San Diego, CA
    May 15 – Crest Theatre – Sacramento, CA
    May 17 – Golden State Theatre – Monterey, CA
    May 18 – Turlock Community Theatre – Turlock, CA
    May 19 – Fox Theatre – Oakland, CA
    May 20 – Uptown Theatre – Napa, CA
    May 22 – Cascade Theatre – Redding, CA
    May 24 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
    May 25 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
    May 26 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
    May 27 – Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox – Spokane, WA
    May 29 – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA
    May 31 – Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Calgary, AB
    June 1 – Casino Regina – Show Lounge – Regina, SK
    June 2 – River Cree Casino and Resort Entertainment Centre – Enoch, AB
    June 3 – Esplanade Theatre – Medicine Hat, AB
    June 5 – Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts – Winnipeg, MB
    June 6 – Fargo Theatre – Fargo, ND
    June 8 – Columbia, MO – Jesse Auditorium – Columbia, MO
    June 9 – Surf Ballroom – Clear Lake, IA
    June 10 – Meyer Theatre – Green Bay, WI

  • Warren Haynes’ 29th Annual Christmas Jam Lineup Announced

    Artists have been announced for the 29th annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam. The event will take place on Dec. 9 at its usual stomping grounds at the U.S. Cellular Center in Warren’s hometown of Asheville, NC. Christmas Jam will once again see a stellar lineup at this year’s benefit to help raise money for Habit for Humanity in the Asheville area.

    Headlining the show will be Gov’t Mule, with special guest Ann Wilson form Heart (making her first appearance at the event), who will perform with the band during their set. The holiday jam session will also include Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB, the Avett Brothers, Les Bros. and Blackberry Smoke. Also, special guest musicians Jake Shimabukuro, Holly Bowling, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Kevn Kinney, and Mike Barnes will sit in throughout the evening, with more soon to be announced.

    Habitat for Humanity will take the proceeds from the event to help construct energy-efficient new houses along with purchasing and developing land for Habitat subdivisions. The project has raised over two million dollar, and has seen the construction of 36 houses to date. This year’s Christmas Jam House will be built in the non-profit organization’s new 21-house community in Arden (South Asheville). The Grammy award winning artist curated the event 29 years ago and spent the last 19 years working closely with Habit for Humanity in Asheville on these projects.

    A limited pre-sale will be available on Oct 19, where fans can get their hands on four-packs, VIP tickets, and travel packages. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Oct. 26. An increased number of seats in the balcony will be made available during both pre-sale and general sale times. Fans will have the flexibility to leave, and return to their balcony seats and mingle downstairs to the open general admission floor area during the more than seven hour long show.

  • X Ambassadors Release ‘Ahead Of Myself’ Music Video in Advance of Hometown Festival

    Ithaca natives, X Ambassadors, have released their new music video for the single “Ahead Of Myself,” which was released this past July. In what’s sure to be another hit for the band, the video was filmed near Rochester.  Frontman Sam Harris put in an amazing vocal performance, singing the song live for the shoot instead of the usual lip syncing as he and the band walked the streets of Monroe.

    Harris recently talked with Billboard about the new music video. He stated:

    We’ve done the narrative film structure of the music video. We’ve done full-on big performance video with lights and stuff and we wanted to do something that felt really intimate and real, authentic, so we shot this video in upstate New York, in Rochester. We’re from Ithaca, New York, upstate. My grandfather used to work at the Kodak building in Rochester.

    Syracuse.com also reports, according to Billboard, Harris wanted to do the live vocal take to feel more intimate, real, vulnerable, and in the moment. The singer avoided alcohol and fried foods for a week in preparation for the vocal video performance. X Ambassadors left an Easter egg in the new music video, as Harris is seen walking into the Monroe movie theater at TMAAC, the marquee above says the word “Joyful,” the band’s next single.

    X Ambassadors will co-headline, along with the Roots, the inaugural Cayuga Sound Festival at Stewart Park in Ithaca on Sept 23. The band hit number one on the Billboard Top 40 in 2015 with the hit “Renegades,” which also became a commercial tie-in for Jeep Renegade. The alternative rock group was formed by Harris, his brother Casey, and childhood friend Noah FeldShuh. The trio went on to college in New York City where they met drummer Adam Levin while attending the New School in 2006. XA blew up all over the N.Y. music scene, and were eventually signed by Interscope Records after Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds heard an acoustic version of their song “Unconsolable,” on the radio while in the hospital. Reynolds told Interscope to sign the band right away.

    The band’s inaugural festival, Cayuga Sound takes place this weekend in the band’s hometown. The official pre-festival parties Friday night at The Haunt and The Dock will feature live music from Jukebox the Ghost, Mail the Horse, the Blind Spots, Namahrah, the Miserable Genius, No Comply, Tender Cruncher and Beau Mahadev.

    Saturday night will be co-headlined by X Ambassadors and the Roots. There will be two stages at Stewart Park, with artists rotating throughout the day. General admission tickets are still available through Ticketfly. Special VIP packages are sold out. For more information about Cayuga Sound, visit the festival’s website here. See the new video from the band below.

  • Emmit Fenn Provides Sountrack to Solar Eclipse

    For those still intrigued by the recent solar eclipse, there’s another way to take in the once-in-a-lifetime event. A custom music soundtrack, synced to the eclipse itself by Emmit Fenn. Inaugural TH3RD BRAIN Accelerator class graduate, Fenn, released a soundtrack centered around the recent solar eclipse event that took place on Aug. 21, titled ECLIPSE EP. Fenn’s Prologue EP, is also available.

    TH3RD BRAIN is a company that collaborates with artists, to refine their strategy, helping promote the unique vision that each artist has. Some of their clients include Krewella, Gallant, New Yorker and America’s Got Talent season 11 winner Grace VanderWaal, Pegboard Nerds, and Lauren Duski. EDM artist Deadmau5, co-signed the EP’s lead single “Drive,” after the track was recently synced to the Netflix show Sense8.

    Emmit Fenn , along with award-winning short film producer Patrick Jean, who inspired the hit movie Pixels with one of his works, collaborated on the venture. Fenn commented on his reasons for doing the EP/video, stating:

    This is the first time in 99 years that the solar eclipse has passed directly over the U.S., so it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. There’s this beautiful mystery and awe around [the eclipse] that is super unique, and it really inspired me to create something different.

    Marketing and design agency Active Theory, help create the experimental audio/visual experience for each song. Other clients Active Theory have under their umbrella include Google, Spotify, and Hennessy. Active Theory has won multiple awards for its design work from FWA, CSSDesignAwards, and Awwwards.