NYS Music 20​17

Author: Zena Ballas

  • ARISE Has Risen

    ARISE Music Festival was held at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado, on a jovial weekend August 4-6, surrounded by rock formations, pleasant lakes, and mysterious meadows. This land was indeed filled with love, so its name holds true to its essence. It was a glorious gathering of all walks of life – an open, family friendly, health conscious like-minded atmosphere where one can simply be whoever they please. Acceptance was a big feature of the time that was had and the energies that flooded the air proved this to be true. People united and rejoiced in ways the whole world could learn from.

    ARISEThe weekend consisted of countless extraordinary artists including performances by Atmosphere, Tipper, Lettuce, Beats Antique, Ani DiFranco, SunSquabi, Rising Appalachia, Brother Ali, Break Science, The Brothers Comatose, Desert Dwellers, and Dopapod, just to name a few. The vibe of these acts included a wide range of eclectic music including electronic, hip-hop, funk, jazz, world fusion, folk, soul, and progressive rock.

    Despite the waves of torrential downpour fluctuating all weekend, flooding and destroying the temporary homes of many, everyone at ARISE seemed to shine through the rain and it only made people dance even harder to the grooves of mother earth, especially when a calm, strong, and bright double rainbow appeared at the end of a fierce shower on the third day. This experience was an evolution of mankind, uniting positivity and kindness throughout each moment.

    Food vendors provided healthy and nutritional options for all types of eaters, as well as the festival’s own farmer’s market. As you entered from the main camping ground through giant neon totem poles, there was eye candy everywhere; each white tent displayed an extensive collection of interesting goods to be sold, not to mention countless painters, sculptors, and artists of all kinds.

    Temptations with zero expectations. Hammocks galore! There were yoga workshops and practices, domes to climb, beaded huts, teepees, and much, much more. This interactive experience gave one the liberty to wander to different areas such as the “Wisdom Village,” “Children’s Village,” and “Solutions Village”, which all co-created a friendly habitat for the weekend in its own worldly bubble. As a good-vibe-only festival, people could be found at any of the stages, including Big Sunrise Dome, StarWater, Scene Magazine, Green Tree, and main headliners at the Eagle stage.

    Sound mimicked the rhythm of body movements and the full moon and clear night on the final evening of the journey fabricated unparalleled liveliness. For anyone interested in participating in a relaxing care-free time with no service whatsoever, ARISE should be on the top of your list, where you can freely admire the sun and moon rise and set over this magical land while opening your mind to stellar soundwaves.

  • Phoenix Rises From Red Ashes at Red Rocks

    There are certain things in life that move you in the most harmonious manner, that it sends chills down your spine. Phoenix was the cause of that exact sensation on a splendid and spectacular evening at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in colorful Colorado on Wednesday, June 7. The night was simply captivating, as giant natural rock formations surround you at this outside venue. An occasion like this should definitely be on a bucket list for those of you who have not had the chance to experience such an event at this magical place.

    phoenix red rocksThe night started off with an energetic group called The Lemon Twigs, who demonstrated their capacity to jam all while rocking funky outfits and made the crowd pop with extreme intrigue and positive responses. The audience slowly filled the arena and nature’s light began to dim. As their performance came to a close, boulders as crimson as can be started to glow underneath the moonlight in the background, and Miike Snow entered the stage not too long after that. As a Swedish indie pop band, they incorporated a sense of synthpop and alternative dance flare and gave fans a sweet taste for what’s to come next.

    Everyone was fooled that night; what was once a clear starry night moments before, took a turn for what was least expected. When it rains, it pours. However, the heaviest of downpours and even slight hail that evening surely didn’t stop the crowd from going wild. The weather gods somehow knew Phoenix was about to perform and it almost seemed like the rain was a grand opening display before an incredibly riveting performance. This French ensemble conquered the stage while standing on a giant LED platform and created a tantalizing memory to store in everyone’s minds. Thomas Mars soothed the surroundings with his vocals, Christian Mazzalai rocked on guitar, Deck d’Arcy on bass and keyboards, and Laurent Brancowitz on guitar and keyboards. The group included their touring members Robin Coudert on keyboards and percussion, as well as Thomas Hedlund on drums and percussion.

    This group’s style has developed over time only to create distinct soundwaves that hit one’s pleasure centers even more. Flavors of synth pop, alternative rock, and new wave filled the atmosphere all while including the French language in some of their masterpieces. This particular show at Red Rocks was actually the last one before they released their newest album, Ti Amo, which is now available for all to listen. It holds a unique and upbeat essence that puts the move in groove. They performed a couple fresh tunes off the new album such as “J-Boy” and “Ti Amo” as well. Certain underlying musical elements are discovered in the back beats of their songs. Other oldies magically graced the air including “If I Ever Feel Better,” “Lasso,” “Girlfriend,” “Trying to be Cool,” “Fences,” “Lisztomania” and “1901.”

    At the end of the performance, Thomas Mars of Phoenix entered the Red Rocks crowd as a personal closing of the night and shared that special moment with everyone around. ‘Twas a heart-warming and sincere performance with a sprinkle of friendliness. Phoenix rose and thus vanished into the night after wooing the crowd with their delectable sound.