NYS Music 20​17

Author: Chad Vergine

  • Ivan Moody Clarifies His Comments About Leaving Five Finger Death Punch

    Several metal and hard rock fans, and various music industry insiders, have always had a lot to say when it comes to Five Finger Death Punch frontman Ivan Moody. Over the last few of years, fans, music journalists and everyone else that has an opinion on this subject has always felt when it comes to Moody and his constant “meltdowns,” and “alcohol/substance abuse” problems, many are surprised that Moody has not been kicked out of the band.

    Moody was even replaced by All That Remains frontman Philip Labonte, to end the band’s 2016 run with Shinedown and Sixx: A.M., after Moody fell “ill,” and could not finish the remaining dates. As reported by NYS Music, many feel that Labonte’s time filling in for Moody was actually an audition and a possible glimpse into the future. So, at first, when several music news sites started reporting that Moody was departing Five Finger Death Punch after his 2017 commitments to the band started to circulate, not many were surprised that some kind of split between the band had finally happened.

    Hours later, Moody released a new statement saying that he’s not going anywhere.

    Moody’s KBPI statement read:

    I had a meltdown. I was like Kanye West without the money. To be completely honest with you, Death Punch and I have kind of come to a crossroads. We’re very proud of what we’ve done – years and years and years of work… It’s time for us to take our way and go do something else, so after this year… my new band, Villain… I’m so excited.

    After several hours, and no response for anyone in Five Finger Death Punch, Moody released a statement on the band’s Facebook page stating that Moody “sets the record straight,” with a link to the band’s website post of Moody’s statement about his comments to KBPI:

    It’s no secret that this has been a tough year for me and for my bandmates in Five Finger Death Punch. When you put everything you have into making music, both on and off the stage, it can be very frustrating when the music you work so hard to create is not allowed to see the light of day. I know we share this frustration with our fans too, who have come to expect new music from us – fans who mean everything to us. It is true that Five Finger Death Punch has come to a crossroads – and that crossroads is we’re all at a place where we will never again let someone or something hold us back from making music for our fans.
    The lawsuit by Prospect Park holding our new album hostage has taken a toll on me. I was in a rehabilitation facility when Prospect Park decided to sue the band last year, and that was very difficult for me to handle all at once.
    Yesterday I made a statement that was taken out of context by the media – a media always looking to create headlines that will make people click them. The truth is, I want to start a side-project like Corey Taylor has with Stone Sour or Maynard has with A Perfect Circle and I want to do it when Five Finger Death Punch’s deal with Prospect Park is over and we are out of this lawsuit.
    THIS DOES NOT MEAN I PLAN ON LEAVING FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!
    The great thing about being a musician today is that you can explore your creativity in multiple ways without compromising your primary focus.  I learned this watching people like Corey and Maynard and I think their fans are glad they’ve put more music out into the world. I hope my fans are, too.
    All that said, Five Finger Death Punch fans can expect our next album via Prospect Park and we are geared up to tour all throughout 2017.  We are about to leave for South America and Europe and we have other dates TBD.
    All of us in the band have worked incredibly hard over the last 10 years to build this band and none of us are going to let that go just because our record company is trying to sabotage us.  I am sorry if the media took my statement as a resignation, but I assure you it wasn’t.” IVAN MOODY – vocalist Five Finger Death Punch

    Moody’s side project Villain will consist of members from Gemini Syndrome and Coal Chamber.

  • Confirmed: Mysteryland 2017 Canceled

    Looks like the rumors are true. After various reports, it has been confirmed that the Mysteryland USA Music Festival will not happen in 2017 and is canceled. The event was supposed to take place at the Original Woodstock Grounds in Bethel, NY on June 9-12. The event has been held in Bethel since it’s debut in 2014. Mysteryland has given no explanation as to the reason why the festival has been scrapped. Mysteryland was set to feature headliners G-Eazy, LCD Soundsystem, and Major Lazer during the 3-day event.

    The rumors started after several scheduled artist, started making moves on social media, making it obvious that the festival was leaning toward being cancelled. G-Eazy and LCD Soundsystem pulled the date from their upcoming shows, and Ekali, one of the many artists set to perform at, confirmed the rumors with his post on Reddit, stating that he was informed the festival was a no go. The post was deleted shortly after.

    Dancing Astronaut posted that a source from within the festival confirmed the show was canceled. Organizers were said to be left in a bad position when one of their PR firms parted ways with the festival, leaving them looking for a replacement firm. This would coincide with another rumor that the festival didn’t garner much interest due to a poor lineup and bad ticket sales.

    Mysteryland promoters spoke on social media about the cancellation and how to get your ticket purchases refunded:

    Dear Nomads,
    Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mysteryland USA will no longer take place in 2017.
    Since 2014, we have strived to produce the best possible experience for our festival attendees, and are truly humbled by all of the love and support that you, the artists, the beautiful venue of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the Town of Bethel have shown us as we celebrated life through music, culture and art.

    Paylogic has started the refund process. Full refunds will be issued automatically to the bank account used to pay for the order within the next 3-5 business days. Paylogic will send all ticket buyers an update with more details about the refund process. The refunds will be processed automatically. No further action is required from your side.

    Mysteryland will mark another ID&T produced festival to march off into the sunset, after 2015 saw the end of TomorrowWorld. With the Mysteryland cancellation, Electric Zoo is the only major EDM festival left standing in the NYC area.

    Fans who already had plans to attend the festival, and were looking forward to a weekend full of live music can explore another option, although a different type of festival, Disc Jam will take place around the same time as Mysteryland was originally scheduled,  in Stephentown, NY, on June 8-11. Disc Jam will feature some of the best jam bands across the nation including Pink Talking Fish, Tauk, Aqueous, Dopapod, and Kung Fu.

  • Buffalo EDM Artist, Grabbitz Releases Video From Upcoming Album

    Buffalo singer, songwriter and producer Grabbitz, has released his music video for the single “Don’t Let Me Go,” which is off the artist’s debut album, Things Change, due May 19 on Grabbitz’s own record label, West Blood Records. The label is named after the street Grabbitz grew up on in Buffalo. Things Change is available for pre order.

    buffalo grabbitzGrabbitz has made a name for himself in his young EDM career. His remix of the Deadmau5 track “Silent Picture,” eventually led to the pair collaborating on the Deadmau5’s hit single, “Let Go,” where you can hear Grabbitz on vocals. The single peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic charts, and has over 10 million views on YouTube.

    He entered the television entertainment industry, when he was called upon to provide compositions for the T.V show CSI: Cyber. His debut EP Friends, was a top 10 dance album on iTunes. His track “Here With You Now,” has over 4 million views on YouTube, and topped the Beatport Dubstep charts in 2014. Grabbitz’s follow up, Better With Time, climbed to #4 on the iTunes Dance chart. His Spotify song catalog currently has over 20 million streams combined.

    Born Nick Chiari, look for Grabbitz to show his stuff off as a live performer, as he plans to perform live shows this summer.

    Things Change Track Listing:
    1. Follow Me
    2. Don’t Let Me Go
    3. I Think That I Might Be Going Crazy
    4. Play This Game
    5. Break Me Down
    6. Pretty Little Melody
    7. Love Like That (Let You Down)
    8. Hold Steady (Better Days)
    9. Things Change
    10. I Shouldn’t Have
    11. A Tragic Interlude
    12. What I’m Going Thru

  • Lamb of God Taking Hiatus

    Metal Injection reports on a recent interview with Sixx Sense that Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe has stated the band will go on a hiatus following the bands summer tour. Blythe, in an recent interview, talked about needing rest from a busy last couple of years. In that time, he has dealt with being jailed in the Czech Republic for accidentally injuring a fan, leading to the fan’s death and a grueling touring cycle, in search of money after bills stemming from legal issues started to mount up.

    Lamb Of God is on tour all summer, starting in South America on June 6, at Groove in Palermo, Argentina, with Carcass and Heaven Shall Burn. July and August finishes Lamb of God’s summer run in North America, before heading on hiatus following the Aug. 20 at the Comerica Theatre, in Phoenix, AZ with Slayer and Behemoth. The tour will bring Lamb of God to Madison Square Garden on July 27 for New Yorkers wanting one more chance to see the band before the hiatus kicks in.

    Blythe stated:

    I got out of prison and immediately went on tour, because I had five lawyers and they were just hemorrhaging money like crazy. I went from jail to home to, ten days later, being at Knotfest to home for a month or two, then out on tour with Lamb of God, then back to the Czech Republic to go to trial, found not guilty, then come home, then finish up the rest of our tour and finally end in South Africa. And then we took a little time off, but there were some changes in the organization and they started writing another record and we need to make money, so it was back in the studio. And it was back on tour again for this last record, and that cycle is not gonna end until August or September of this year, I guess. So it’s just been, like, grinding, grinding, grinding. And when I’m not on the road, I’m working on writing and photography.

    [These are] things that make me happy. But it’s at a point now where it’s like, at the end of this tour cycle, it’s gonna be like, boom, it’s time to take a break for real and concentrate more on writing and being at home with the family. It’s time for me now, at the end of this… ‘Cause we got off, after I got done with the whole prison thing and then finishing that tour, we got off the road and then we started writing a new record, and then we recorded that record. And we didn’t tell anyone that we were recording — nobody knew. They thought we were just chilling at home, and then we go on tour before the record even comes out.

  • Legendary DJ to Perform On Top Of Mt Everest

    EDM Sauce reports that legendary electronic dance music DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold will add another first to his list of places that no other EDM artist, or any artist for that matter, has ever performed. Oakenfold’s next stop, on April 11, will see the British-born DJ take the long and dangerous 17,000 foot hike up Mt. Everest and perform at the highest party in the world at the mountain’s Base Camp to celebrate the 3o year anniversary of the Second Summer of Love, which was the name given to the period in the late 80’s when acid house music and rave parties were on the rise.

    When it comes to performing in unique places, Oakenfold is no stranger. Oakenfold has been the first EDM artist to ever perform at the Great Wall of China, The Hollywood Bowl, Coachella’s main stage and Madison Square Garden.

    The venture will be part of Oakenfold’s “Generations World Tour,” which will cover six continents with new visuals, music and extended sets, playing tracks from a career that has lasted over three decades. Oakenfold will perform on two turntables and two Denon SC5000’s. For fans who can’t make the trip and climb the mountain, don’t worry, Oakenfold will live stream the Mt. Everest event through EXTREME.

    Oakenfold was voted DJ Magazine’s #1 Dj in 1998 and 1999. He has produced over 100 remixes for over 100 artists throughout his career including Madonna, Britney Spears, U2, Elvis Presley, Hans Zimmer, Dirty Vegas, P.O.D., Justin Timberlake, The Cure, Natasha Bedingfield, Moby, Massive Attack, The Rolling Stones, Crystal Method, Jennifer Lopez and The Doors. Oakenfold founded the EDM record label Perfecto, in 1989, which is still going strong.

  • Nameless Ghoul Speaks Out on Ghost Lawsuit

    Metal Injection reports that former Ghost guitarist, Simon Soderberg, posted an lengthy post on Facebook about his pending lawsuit with former Ghost band members. Soderberg and three other ‘nameless ghoul’ former members of Ghost have launched a lawsuit against Ghost frontman Papa Emeritus, real name Tobias Forge, for cheating them out of royalties from music and live tours.

    nameless ghoul simon soderbergThe lawsuit does not include former member Martin Persner, who many believe started the band. It’s said that the band may have gone through more than 10 members. With each band member’s identity being under a mask and known only as a Nameless Ghoul, there is no way to really tell how many former members Ghost really has. The four members in the lawsuit want Forge to disclose all financial income and expense statements, or be forced by the courts to pay a penalty in the $20,000 range.

    Ghost, with new band members will perform at The Palace Theatre in Albany on June 6.

    Soderberg’s Facebook post stated:

    https://www.facebook.com/simon.soderberg.52/posts/10154419061836127

    As of yesterday we, four signatories from the band Ghost, have filed a lawsuit with the Linköping District Court. We are suing Tobias Forge (”Papa Emeritus”) – the band’s lead singer who has also been responsible for the finances of the band since its founding.
    As of the filing of this lawsuit we are requesting that the court, under penalty, oblige Tobias Forge to declare the incomes as well as expenses of the band concerning the years between 2011 and 2016.

    Throughout all the years we have been on tour with Ghost (between 2011-2016 some of us have performed something like 500 shows with the band) and throughout the band’s album recordings, we have neither been allowed to share in the profits of the band, nor have we seen any of the incomes accounted for. The only thing we have received have been minimal advance payments to allow the band to keep going. This despite the fact that we had an agreement that any profits should be shared fairly between the members of the band.

    When we have attempted to raise the issue of the band’s finances with Tobias Forge, his sole response has been that there are so far no profits to be share, but that everyone will be generously compensated once the band turns a profit.

    The reason that this lawsuit is now being filed is a contract dispute that has escalated during the previous year (2016). Over the last year we have received multiple proposed contracts from Tobias Forge in which he seeks to redefine his role in the band.

    Since the conception of Ghost, our common understanding and agreement has been that we are a band on equal terms, but that Tobias will act as band leader and manage the band’s finances through his own companies.

    Through contracts received from Tobias and his lawyers during 2016, Tobias has attempted to make us sign an agreement that implies we are merely consultants working for his company, an agreement also stating that we would receive less that a minimal wage for our contributions to the band. According to this proposal, furthermore we would renounce any and all rights to music royalties.

    All above despite the fact that some of us have been members of the band since its foundation, investing all of our time in the band during the past five years, with as much right to the recordings and trademark of the band Ghost as that of Tobias Forge.

    Our vocalist and former friend is now attempting to, in a underhanded and shameless way, transform Ghost from a band into a solo project with hired musicians. Naturally this is not something we can accept.

    When, in connection with the 2016 United States tour, approached a lawyer in order to sort out the situation of the contracts, we were informed that Tobias Forge no longer wanted us to participate in upcoming tours. Thus, Tobias Forge is now going ahead with the tour, which started March 24 2017 and is set to end in the UK on August 12, on his own together with rented musicians who have replaced all other band members. Tobias Forge has chosen this path of action without any permission from us to carry out the tour on his own. This under the name Ghost, which we regard as our commonly owned trademark.

    The actions of Tobias Forge amount to nothing less than unabashed dishonesty, greed, and darkness. Not the darkness of which Ghost sings, but a darkness that pushes a person to betray his best friends when fame and fortune appear within reach.

    We are terribly sorry that this afflicts the fans of the band as well, and that they too should suffer because of this betrayal and greed.

    We who are suing Tobias Forge are:
    Simon Söderberg (Alpha) – member of Ghost since 2010.
    Mauro Rubino (Air) – member of Ghost since 2011.
    Henrik Palm (Eather) – member of Ghost since 2015
    Martin Hjertstedt (Earth) – member of Ghost since 2014
    The Nameless Ghouls

  • The Other Brothers Tour NY This Spring

    New Paltz area jazz, funk, and soul band, the Other Brothers, will hit the road for a spring tour around New York State, stopping in nine different cities from April through June, in some of the bands favorites venues to perform. The Other Brothers will also make a stop at the Pacific Standard Tavern in New Haven, CT. The tour kicked off at the Spinning Room in Tannersville, and will close on June 21 at the Angry Orchard in Walden.

    The Other Brothers TourThe tour will mark the first time The Other Brothers have performed in the cities of Nyack, New Haven, and Syracuse. Several acts will join The Other Brothers as support on select shows including Gang Of Thieves, Space Carnival, Formula 5, Theo Katzman, Eggy, Goose, and The New Daze.

    The Other Brothers are slated to perform at this years Disc Jam Music Festival in Stephentown, NY on June 8-11. The band’s sound and style have drawn comparisons to the likes of Stevie Wonder and D’Angelo. The band is currently recording their debut album titled Jones. The album will be released sometime during the fall of 2017.

    The Other Brothers consist of Chris Owens (vocals), John Morrison (guitar), Jordan Mendelson (bass guitar), Brandon Bera (drums), Gabe Marquez (keys), and Jared Nelson (percussion).

    The Other Brothers 2017 Tour Dates:

    April 8 – BSP Kingston – Kingston, NY!
    April 14 – Olive’s – Nyack, NY@
    April 15 – Putnam Den – Saratoga Springs, NY#
    April 19 – Garcia’s – Port Chester, NY$
    April 21 – Pacific Standard Tavern – New Haven, CT%
    April 29 – Snug Harbor Bar and Grill – New Paltz, NY^
    May 6 – Funk ‘n Waffles – Syracuse, NY*
    May 8-11 – Disc Jam Music Festival – Stephentown, NY
    June 21 – Angry Orchard – Walden, NY

    !Gang Of Thieves
    @Space Carnival
    #Formula 5
    $Theo Katzman and Joe Dart of Vulfpeck
    %Eggy
    ^Goose
    *The New Daze

  • X Ambassadors Curate Inaugural Cayuga Sound Festival

    Ithaca natives, the X Ambassadors, will return to where it all started, as the alternative indie rockers return home to headline and present the inaugural Cayuga Sound Festival. The festival will take place at historic Stewart Park, on Sept. 22-23. Tickets go on sale March 31, at 10 a.m.

    Alternative hip hop, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon house band, the Roots, will headline an evening as well. Other artists performing during the two-day festival include K.Flay, the Knocks, Tei Shi, Margaret Glaspy, Jukebox the Ghost, Savoir Adore, Crush Club, Sammus, Izzy True, Imperials, Stone Cold Miracle, and Mail the Horse. More artists will be announced later.

    Cayuga Sound will showcase vendors from across the region that will be on hand to feed festival goers, along with local brews made just for the festival from Ithaca Beer Company. The full food lineup will be announced soon.

    X Ambassador frontman Sam Harris commented about the upcoming fall festival:

    My brother Casey and I are proud to call ourselves native Ithacans. The city is an important part of our identity, personally, and professionally. We cut our teeth as musicians in Ithaca, so X Ambassadors owe the city a great deal. We wanted to curate a music festival in Ithaca that celebrates the city where we hail from. With an eclectic line-up of artists from all different genres of music, wonderful food and drink from local vendors and the opportunity to give back to the community we are so proud of.

    X Ambassadors debut full length album VHS, debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, and is certified gold by the RIAA. The album churned out three hit singles.  Their single “Jungle,” which features Jamie N Collins and Jay-Z, is certified gold. The band’s release of the single “Renegades,” earned them their first certified platinum hit, and the X Ambassadors biggest selling single, “Unsteady,” is certified twice platinum. X Ambassadors are featured in the hip hop track “Sucker For Pain,” which is certified twice platinum and features Lil’ Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic and Ty Dolla $ign.

  • 2017 Vans Warped Tour Lineup Confirmed

    Vans apparel company has confirmed the lineup for the annual Warped Tour. Festival creator and organizer, Kevin Lyman, announced the lineup at the Warped Tour’s artist announcement party live from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.

    Before getting into video packages unveiling which artist will play on which one of Warped Tour’s several stages, Lyman touched on some of the negative social media post that started to circulated once the lineup leaked. Lyman said that they found who leaked the lineup, and asked, if you’re a professional in this line of work, respect the privacy and what so many have worked hard on since the conclusion of the previous year’s tour, and let the news come out naturally.

    Set to appear at the 2017 installment of the tour is:  Andy Black, Gwar, Hatebreed, Our Last Night, American Authors, Bad Omens, Sylar, Beartooth, Hands Like Houses, Bad Seed Rising, I Prevail, Blessthefall, New Years Day, Separations, Dance Gavin Dance, Sick Of It All, Memphis May Fire, CKY, Emmure, Fire From The Gods, Silverstein, William Control, and on limited dates, Bowling For Soup.

    Warped Tour kicks off June 16, at the Century Link Stadium’s North Lot in Seattle, WA, and closes on Aug, 6, at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. Warped Tour will make stops in New York on July 8, at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh and July 13 at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center. Surrounding areas that would make an easy road trip for New Yorkers include July 7 at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, N.J. July 9 at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, CT and July 15 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J.

  • OmniZen Studio in Cohoes Set For Grand Opening

    Local artists looking to make their first professional recording or those simply looking for a change have a new option beginning this Saturday. OmniZen Studios in Cohoes is holding its grand opening Saturday, March 18 from 4:00 -8:00 p.m.

    Hosted by the owners, entrepreneurs and New York natives, Shane Morris and Peter Alexander, the grand opening located at 3 McElwain Ave. in Cohoes will feature local artists including Carl Daniels. Free food, beer and liquor will be on hand for those attending the event. Morris and Alexander will be on hand to answer any questions and discuss what they are looking to accomplish.

    OmniZen Studio will provide services in audio/video recording and editing, audio mastering, artist management and production and graphic design. OmniZen will also feature yoga classes during the studio’s downtime.

    Morris and Alexander met each other through a mutual friend and quickly found that they both share a love for music, artistry and people. The duo’s ultimate goal is to make OmniZen, an actual record label, and help mold local talent into the stars of tomorrow.

    Morris on his and Alexander’s plan for OmniZen:

    We plan to make this the best studio for artists that are trying to get up and running with their music, while also producing and managing artists. We plan to progress to a point where we eventually start a record label, where we will be using my connections with music industry professionals to shop artist and songwriters to major labels like Sony Music and Warner Music. Eventually, we also plan to develop a music engineering workshop for people to learn mixing and engineering skills. Further, this studio will be more than just a recording studio, as we currently have a professional graphic designer on staff, and Peter is a talented videographer who produces music videos and web series weekly. Going even further with diversity we will be hosting yoga classes in our studio during downtime. We are both Avid certified engineers (Avid is the company that makes Pro Tools recording software).

    Alexander on the upcoming venture:

    While attending school I gained much more knowledge and understanding on sound as a whole, my perspective has changed immensely. Also, I was able to connect with people and work live sound almost my entire time attending the new school. After finishing the course, I became a stay at home dad who currently spends most every evening building toward my dreams, goals, and putting together our recording studio in hopes to make our services the best available.

    Shane Morris is a native of Newburgh and was part of the College of Saint Rose’s Music Industry program, where he perfected his skills in Pro Tools and audio engineering.

    While attending St. Rose, Morris worked in several local venues as a live sound engineer including Valentines Music Hall, Red Square, and Legends on Pearl to name a few. Morris started DownBeat Music Group to record and do live sound after he graduated. He also gave private vocal and  guitar lessons during this time. In 2014, Morris worked the MOVE Music Festival in Albany as a promoter and sound engineer

    Peter Alexander is a Kingston native. During his time trying to get a solo career off the ground, Alexander managed other local artists booking studio time and shows as well as online promotion. Alexander worked live sound at local bars and venues while performing throughout the northeast for a year. After needing a change in his surroundings, Alexander moved to Albany. After just over a year in Upstate N.Y., Alexander became a certified Avid Operator in Pro Tools after attending the New School For Media for Engineering and Music Production.

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