NYS Music 20​17

Author: Pete Mason

  • Premiere: The Bowling Alley Sound present latest single “Alabama Dissonance”

    Northern New Jersey post-rock band The Bowling Alley Sound has released their latest single “Alabama Dissonance,” on their label 46 West, exclusively through NYS Music. The single follows their 2017 sophomore EP The Bowling Alley Sound, which was named a “Fresh Find” for the first half of 2017 by Spotify.

    The inspiration for this song came from a cross-country road trip with friends. “We were driving down an Alabama highway in the middle of the night,” describes guitarist Mike Basil. “Truckers were speeding past us, rain was pouring, and the thunder was unbearably loud. The woods along the highway were aflame in the distance. This tense, otherworldly experience is reflected in the song’s dissonant chords, loud feel changes, and cymbal crashes. In contrast, the youthful voice of my nephew adds peace and resolve to the track, leading it out of a confusing place.”

    The Bowling Alley Sound is a five piece instrumental band consisting of guitar (Mike Basil), drums (Nick Looney), bass (Andrew Capuano), violin (Isaac Rubins), and trumpet (Danny Molloy), and when combined bring together a sound that evokes artists such as Do Make Say Think, Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and other ambient minimalist musicians.

  • Sly Fox and the Hustlers release video for ‘Smooth’

    Sly Fox and the Hustlers have released the video for “Smooth,” off the group’s most recent studio album American Gypsy. The video was filmed at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs, prior to recent remodeling of the cozy, worn in, rock club. With renovations now complete, the video now serves as a piece of nostalgia towards the ‘old’ Den.

    Sly Fox spoke with NYS Music about the “Smooth” video and the Hustlers.

    The concept for the ‘Smooth’ video is a grifter girl sneaking into the club and hustling a few of the regulars at a pool game and a few drinks at the bar. She then sets her sights on the door man and more importantly the door money bag after she sees him counting the money. She then tries to put some moves on him with the hopes of making off with the cash. If you want to know if she succeeds you will have to watch the video!

    Stay up to date for shows from Sly Fox and the Hustlers on their Facebook page.

  • Premiere: Collin Jones releases title track off “Specimen” EP

    On Friday, November 10, Collin Jones will release his first solo EP, Specimen, released on Galaxy Diamond Records. A member of Rochester bands Haewa, Ocular Panther and Stereo Nest, this record offers a more personal, stripped down approach to Jones’ music, who wrote, records and produced the tracks in his hometown of Rochester. An album release party will take place on November 10 at Temple Bar with PA Line.

    Listen below to the exclusive premiere of ‘Specimen’

  • They Fought the Law and the Funk Won: After Funk Debuts Latest Video “Freak”

    After Funk has released the video for “Freak,” the first single off their album set to be released in Spring 2018. Shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Tampa, Florida over last New Years, the video follows two criminals, Donnie and Lou, who flee with their winnings to South Florida, and the detectives who track them down.

    After Funk is currently wrapping up their Fall Tour with shows in Hamilton, Ontario on Saturday 10/28, Boston on Wednesday 11/1, Providence on Thursday 11/2, Bridgeport on Friday 11/3 and wrap things up on Thursday, November 30 at Java Barn in Canton, NY.

  • Venezuelan-American Folk/Rock singer Daniel Tortoledo Premieres “Eloise”

    Brooklyn-based Venezuelan-American songwriter Daniel Tortoledo has released his latest single “Eloise,” from his upcoming album Throughout These Years.

    Regarding “Eloise,” Daniel Tortoledo noted “When we first started putting it together with the band, I remember challenging the drummer to a bare minimum use of cymbals. Listening to the track today, I think it shows how much it can be accomplished with so little.” Daniel added “Anecdotes aside, I believe and stand behind every word in the lyrics.”

    Daniel Tortoledo EloiseThroughout These Years is Daniel Tortoledo’s first full-length solo album and was recorded in New York City and Boston, and backed up by band members Billy Herron, Cullen Corley, Chris Kyle, Dave Cole and Grant Zubritsky. “I’ve worked in different projects in the past but this one has the most meaning to me because I was able to get out of my comfort zone and hit extreme aspects of my inner self.” he explained. “I feared and loved every decision along the process.”

    Alongside the studio version, Tortoledo has shared an acoustic stripped-down rendition of the song, filmed during an intimate live session in Brooklyn shortly after the songwriter completed a string of West Coast shows.

    Follow Daniel on his website and on Spotify, Facebook, Soundcloud, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter.

  • JRAD Performs Full Terrapin Suite at Fall Ball, Welcomes Stuart Bogie

    Capping off the third show of their first weekend at Brooklyn Bowl this October, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) dialed into their interpretation of the music of the Grateful Dead, with a full “Terrapin Station” suite, and welcomed multi-instrumentalist Stuart Bogie to the stage for a good chunk of the show.

    JRAD terrapinA first set that started out with an “I Need a Miracle” > “New Speedway Boogie” > “Playin’ in the Band” sequence that took the band on a 45 minute rockin’ ride, with a spacey jazz odyssey inside PITB. “Eyes of the World” featured Stuart Bogie on saxophone, aptly filling the role of Branford Marsalis on the live version found on Without a Net. Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger all took a turn at the helm, everyone steering the ship in their own way, before settling back into safe harbor. “Dancing in the Street” and “Brown Eyed Woman” closed out the set, the latter with a brief “Eyes of the World” reprise and a “Stella Blue” tease/jam at the end.

    “Uncle John’s Band” kicked off a 4-song second set with Bogie on flute, later switching to sax for “The Other One” which included jams on “Cryptical Envelopment,” “Roadhouse Blues” and “How Many More Times” before a long segue into the full Terrapin Station suite which found Bogie on clarinet for the lengthy composition. An encore of “Samson and Delilah” with Bogie once again closed out a warm, full night and enticed fans heading to this weekend’s 3-night run at Brooklyn Bowl.

    Setlist compiled by Peter Costello
    Set One: Jam -> I Need A Miracle -> New Speedway Boogie -> Playing In The Band @ > Eyes Of The World @ % -> Dancing In The Streets @ ^ -> Brown Eyed Women & -> Stella Blue Jam

    Set Two: Uncle John’s Band @#$ + The Other One @ ++ > Cryptical Envelopment Jam @@ > Terrapin Station Suite @#$ ##

    Encore: Samson & Delilah @ *

    @ – With Stuart Bogie on Tenor Sax # – With Stuart Bogie on Flute $ – With Stuart Bogie on Clarinet % – With a Marco Solo that evolved into a Marco/Tommy Duet, a DD Bass Solo & the circa 1973 ending in 7, not played since (I think) 2013-01-26 at Brooklyn Bowl, a gap of 122 shows. ^ – With “Shortnin’ Bread” (James Whitcomb Riley), “Hoedown” (Aaron Copeland) Teases (MB) and an “Inspector Gadget” Theme (Shuki Levy and Haïm Saban) Tease (Band) & – With Throwing Stones and Eyes of the World Jams / Teases (Band) + – Proceeded by a “Some Like It Hot” (The Power Station) Tease / Jam. That tune was continually referenced throughout the set. Also included a Duo Jam, and a “Becky” (Benevento Russo Duo) Jam ++ – With a “Roadhouse Blues” (The Doors) Jam, A “How Many More Times” (Led Zeppelin) Jam, a “Money” (Pink Floyd) Jam @@ – First Time Played by Almost Dead as an Instrumental, with a St. Stephen Tease (SM) and an Uncle John’s Band Tease (DD) ## – With a The Wheel Jam, a Swingtown Jam (led by MB) & a “Some Like It Hot” (Power Station) Tease * – With a “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (Julia Ward Howe) Tease (Stuart Bogie)

  • Premiere: Swedish Pop Group Akaba Releases Video for “Starfly”

    Swedish band Akaba has released their newest video “Starfly,” a collaboration with Kjahart, who used stop motion film and also created the album cover art for The Rust Within, recorded at Roth Handle Studios in Stockholm, Sweden.

    Åsa Carild tells of the song’s background “I used to sing in a band that was, for a little while, very successful. Being very young at the time it became an important part of how I defined myself. When all that faded, I was no longer who I defined myself as. The song is about the struggle with this.”
    Akaba starfly

    Akaba will release their debut album The Rust Within on October 13 and will perform at Pianos in NYC on October 14. Doors open at 6:30, with Akaba performing at 7pm.

    Akaba was born from the ashes of two other prominent Swedish Indie bands, Pineforest Crunch and Reminder. Åsa Carild, Tobias Ljungkvist and Mattias Olsson have toured extensively in Sweden playing everything from Thai restaurants to 600 seat venues, as well as touring the west coast of the United States, Toronto, London and New York City. Follow Akaba on Facebook, Soundcloud, Instagram, and tune in on Spotify or order their album on Amazon.

  • Let’s Be Leonard Releases ‘Live at Nectar’s’

    Let’s Be Leonard have released Live at Nectar’s, from their June 16, 2017 performance at the fabled Burlington venue. Tune in below and check out Let’s Be Leonard on their Fall Tour!

  • Blind Owl Band Premieres “Reloading” from Upcoming Album ‘Skeezy Patty’

    On Friday,October 13, The Blind Owl Band will release their third studio album Skeezy Patty. NYS Music has an exclusive premiere of “Reloading” off Skeezy Patty.

    “Reloading is a chant for the resilient” (Arthur Buezo) and Blind Owl Boys have clearly reloaded on Skeezy Patty. “Reloading” is up tempo and slightly dark yet true, with a little Greensky Bluegrass influence in the tune’s peaks and valleys, with Arthur Buezo (guitar) trading lines with James Ford (banjo)
    The album pays homage to their beloved 1999 Ford Econoline tour van “Skeezy Patty,” who just like Blind Owl Band, has pushed the limits of life on the road. In the five years since their last release, the owls have played over 700 shows across 17 states, building their rowdy & dedicated fan base across the east coast.
    blind owl band skeezy patty
    An intricate offering of 10 fervent tracks, Skeezy Patty reflects heavy periods of musical and emotional growth, that offer a dark and dynamic raw sound while pushing the limits of their acoustic sonic tone. Blind Owl Band’s newest album reflects the stark reality of being musicians who continually strive to evolve with their music and live life of purpose. The boys push the limits of their engine night after night; climb aboard and get ready for a one-of-a-kind ride.

  • Bencoolen Premieres new single “The Crown”

    Bencoolen has released their latest single, “The Crown,” recorded this past summer at Inner Ear Studios and produced by Don Zientara.

    The song combines hard hitting songwriting, dynamic shifts, and tells the story of driving to a music festival to encounter someone struggling with addiction. The lyrics set the scene of the drive in, the sights and sounds of the festival, and an ironic throne on which he sits.

    The Washington D.C. based group transitioned into a touring act in February 2016, bringing together founding members Teddy Scott (guitar) and Paul Gregg (vocals/guitar) with Jack Bentsen (Alto Sax), Ben Suarez (bass) and Will Lockery (drums) joining them. Together, Bencoolen has evolved into a ‘more is more’ rock group with soaring vocals, powerful guitar works and soulful saxophone. They’ve supported Big Something, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Atlas Road Crew, the Mowgli’s, and Marcus King Band, among others, and has been hitting the road hard in the Mid-Atlantic area.

    bencoolen the crownThey’ll be in New York on November 17 for a performance at Arlene’s Grocery with Youth Yamada and supporting Maradeen.