NYS Music 20​17

Category: Special

  • Previous Love Releases Music Video “Caffeine”

    Buffalo-based band Previous Love has debuted their first music video, for their song “Caffeine.” The catchy alt rock tune is from their self-titled EP, which was recorded and released over the summer. The  video montage documents their coffee-fueled recording sessions.

    “We wanted to really take our fans into the studio with us but still capture the emotion of the song,” bassist Steven Browne told NYS Music. “We get asked a lot what it’s like being in the studio for the first time as a  young band. I believe this really captures our experience while still staying true to the intent of the song.”

    The video features band members Steven Browne (bass), Charles Campanella (guitar),  John Perdue (drums) and Gary Sheedy (vocals and guitar) working alongside producer Jay Zubricky. Filmed in and around GCR Audio, it includes shots of them traveling to the studio, recording, and hanging out. Visual effects such as cross-dissolves, slow motion, time lapse, reverse footage create a surreal effect that suits the “Caffeine” theme.

    “It’s exciting being in the studio, capturing those moments that make a record special,” said Browne. “At the end of the video it actually is the footage from the moment we captured the ending to ‘Caffeine.’”

    Follow Previous Love on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Their debut self-titled EP Previous Love is available for purchase on Bandcamp (name your price) and streaming on Spotify. For more about the EP, read the NYS Music review.

  • GrooveSafe Seeks to Eliminate Assault at Shows

    It’s a Saturday night in your city and people all over town are making plans to hit up the most popular music venue to catch a prominent local band. Groups of friends meetup beforehand to plan outfits, shoot the shit or convince each other to stop hermitting and be social. On this particular night, all walks of life turn up to see the band, and it’s a blast. The room is alive with energy, nearly everyone is dancing. Most people leave at the end of the night feeling invigorated. But there are a few music-goers whose night was clouded by discomfort. Why? Because another human inappropriately laid their hand on them without consent.

    Ew.groovesafe

    Many of us, both men and women, can share a story of a time someone invaded their personal space at a show by touching them without permission. Since I began writing this article, I attended a fantastic show and as I was dancing, a man walked up behind me and put his hand around my waist. I wheeled around and calmly but sternly told him to never do that without asking someone because it’s basic respect. After my friend continued to glare at him, he came up to me to apologize again. That experience was mild compared to what some show goers have experienced. Though alcohol or other drugs may be obscuring the boundaries of what is and is not appropriate interaction, it absolutely will never be an excuse for a complete lack of basic human decency.

    This abhorrent behavior goes far beyond the live music scene. The recent “Me Too” campaign spearheaded by actress Alyssa Milano against film producer Harvey Weinstein has ignited overwhelming support within the acting community, highlighting the prevalence of this inappropriate behavior within the larger population. It raises questions about why predators feel entitled to treat other human beings like items in the produce department of the local grocery store.

    That’s why Ashley Driscoll has spearheaded GrooveSafe, an initiative seeking to bring awareness to the need for consent before physical contact at shows. They have created an elegant and eye catching logo that when displayed, is a reminder that we all need to be conscious of the way we conduct ourselves around other people. When asked to describe what we can do to prevent these unwanted interactions she stated:

    Unfortunately prevention is a difficult word. The main goal of GrooveSafe is to spread awareness that these sorts of behaviors are happening all the time, all around us. I believe change in behavior starts in understanding how truly unwanted these advances are. Our true goal is to become obsolete someday. Nothing would make me happier than to go to a show and not have to constantly look over my shoulder and just be able to watch the show in peace. This is a difficult question because it is not as simple as going in groups or wearing a certain thing or another. Females and males alike should be able to look, feel and be whatever or whoever they want without being touched by a stranger or sometimes even a friend in a manner that they have not agreed to or have not welcomed. – Ashley Driscoll, founder of Groovesafe

    Perhaps one solution is to more effectively teach the importance of consent in early education, so our younger generations can grow up with a stronger understanding of consensual behavior. In the meantime, Driscoll is doing what she can to raise awareness through GrooveSafe. With a new website, Ashley is now selling stickers, pins and other merchandise so people can brandish the logo to bring attention to non consensual touching. The money she brings in from these sales will be used to keep producing gear to perpetuate her important message.

    To donate through PayPal, use teamgroovesafe@gmail.com

    Groove safe everybody.

  • Dave DiPrimo Band’s Latest Single “Know You Best”

    Rochester alternative folk group Dave DiPrimo Band has released their latest single, “Know You Best.” The song comes from their forthcoming sophomore album Reflections, which is set to release on Saturday, November 25.

    “Know You Best” is the first track on the new full-length LP. In this intensely emotional tale of longing for connection, pleading lyrics give way to bellowing vocals in the chorus. The song establishes the nostalgic tone that pervades the entire album.

    Dave DiPrimo Band is: Dave DiPrimo on vocals/guitar/keys, Reid Hoffmeier on drums, Ian Benz on bass, and Karis Gregory on saxophone (and sometimes guitar). While based in the folk tradition, DDB weaves in influences from genres as far flung as soul and punk to create a sound that’s both timeless and contemporary.

    https://soundcloud.com/nysmusic/know-you-best

  • 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.

  • 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’

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Dave DiPrimo Band Returns to Rochester Fringe Festival

    On the eighth day of KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, the city-wide celebration of performing arts was still going strong. I drove downtown after work on Thursday night to catch a set by Dave DiPrimo Band at Java’s Café. Even on a weeknight, people were out and about, congregating on the sidewalks or making their way to one of the 25 Rochester Fringe venues.

    Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    When I entered Java’s Café, Dave DiPrimo Band’s set was already in full swing.  The mid-size cafe was standing room only tonight for the local indie quartet. DiPrimo, front and center, strummed his acoustic Martin. He was flanked by Ian Benz on bass and Karis Gregory on saxophone. Reid Hoffmeier manned the drums. They were playing a dreamy folk-art song which could be pulled off as a solo singer/songwriter performance, but is made so much richer with a full backing band.

    The joy of alternative music is that the rules that govern music writing can be bent. And Dave DiPrimo Band revels in this freedom from needing to conform. Pulling on influences as varied as classic rock, soul, jazz, blues, punk, and even Latin music, they create original tunes that defy convention. Put a saxophone on a folk song? Why not!

    Karis Gregory Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    Gregory traded the sax for an electric guitar, and DiPrimo switched to a hallow-body Ibenez for the next song, “Somethings.” DiPrimo was adept in the art of engaging the audience, getting us to sing along in a call and response of melodic oh’s and la’s. He picked up his favored Martin for the heartfelt ballad “Four Letter Word.” Gregroy was back on sax for this one, playing long, low notes full of longing and soulful expression. He stole the spotlight with solos full of fancy trills and flourishes.

    The songs got livelier as the night progressed. Midway through the nostalgic “Glory Days,” the music swelled in joyous revelry. That night Benz and Hoffmeier displayed skill, but restraint. Here, they finally had a chance to go all out. Hoffmeier, in his t-shirt from Rush’s 40th anniversary tour, threw himself into the song wholeheartedly. The song also showcased DiPrimos vocal range, from crooning soft contemplative verses to belting out the strong, bellowing chorus.

    Dave DiPrimo Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    Before the final song, DiPrimo thanked everyone for coming out. He told us that last year he played Fringe Festival solo, this year as a full band, and joked that next year they might expand even further with the addition of a full backing choir.

    They closed out with “Selina.” DiPrimo counted in, in Spanish and the band launched into a spicy Latin-influenced number. It was a shame the room was so packed, there was no room to dance. But that didn’t stop people from moving in their seats and clapping along. In the morning, the members of Dave DiPrimo Band would be back in their college classes, but they still took the time to hang around for a while after the show to talk to members of the audience and pass out cards for a free download of their new single, “Now.”

    Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    Dave DiPrimo Band’s Thursday Setlist:  American Dream, End Of The World, Know You Best, Out In The Cold, Now, Somethings, Four Letter Word, Glory Days, And It Goes, Selina

    Dave DiPrimo Band’s music is available on CD Baby, iTunes, and Spotify. Watch for their new full-length album, coming out this fall. Follow on Facebook for updates.

    Photos by Joseph DiPrimo.