Town Ballroom was bursting at the seams with a whole new culture Thursday January 19 with Datsik in town and with a sold out venue. EDM music is becoming more and more popular and I can see why. In line you could find someone in a Pikachu onesie, or another in a unicorn and some girls who seemed to just have on their bra and panties.
Virtual Riot was playing by the time everyone walked in. EDM music is not door at 8 and music starts at 8:30-9pm, it is doors are at 8 and the music is already bumping. The beats were lively and it created an atmosphere that was all its own. Virtual was a perfect opener, he got the continuously lingering crowd hyped up for the night and put them in a party mindset.
Christopher Lee Marshall better known as Crizzly hailing from Austin, Texas was an entertainment all his own. He brought a hype man with him who did just that, hype the crowd. He jumped all around the stage and even at one point jumped in the crowd and moshed with the audience.
Datsik, what is there to say about him? His visual effects were captivating; he had screens set up that took up the entire stage, his new stage setup was by Shogun stage production. He ditched the vortex this tour. The beats he created released the crowd into an animalistic behavior. The crowd was a bit out of control. Sitting on the platform you could see everything going on.
Not long into his set there was a girl who passed out and as soon as that happened the bodyguard guarding the pit entrance attention turned to that; then two girls who looked to be on something ran into the pit and began to “erotic dance.” As soon as another guard saw what the girls were doing, they were swooped up like rag dolls and thrown out. People were taking off their clothes and it became a free for all. Datsik did his job and entranced the Town Ballroom crowd and left everyone feeling new and free.
On Friday night in Brooklyn, the sixth annual “Wintercourse” took place at the Knitting Factory. All four bands on the bill had shared practice space and admiration for one another over the years which created a love filled environment on the gloomy Inauguration Day. Fans young and old packed the small venue before the first band entered the stage, proving that time placement had nothing to do with crowd preference or popularity.
Teddy Midnight performed first and instead of simply warming the crowd up, they hot boxed the room! Glow sticks began lighting their way into the crowd during the first song of the evening, “Veni Veni Veni,” off their 2016 release, Velvet Blue. In fact, the set list was heavily layered with songs off the same album, which happens to be their meatiest and most recent release. The four members sonically tasered their fans during the nucleus of the set list when the “Primordial> Velvet Show Jam>Velvet Mist> Tree-O-Tree” combination was played for the first time. Adam Magnan on drums teamed up with Sean McAuley on keys to recreate my childhood in what I can only describe as the theme music from Crusin’ USA for Nintendo 64. Sean Silva added some fuzzy textures by means of the bass and synth throughout the notable jam that lasted for the better half of the set. Guitarist Wiley Griffin announced their final song to the dismay of the audience as “Air BND” followed them off the stage.
The “Ukulele progressive rock band,” Cousin Earth, was the group that I was most excited to see on the bill solely based on the genre description posted on the website. The five-piece consists of Joey Calfa on ukulele, Nate Searing on drums, Corey J. Feldman on Ubass, Tara Lawton on melodica and keys and Terry Brennan on percussion. All of the members handled vocals during the gender blending set that consisted of originals and well-known covers. “Point of No Return” off the 2015 self-titled EP started the set and acted as the padding for the first cover of the night, “Yellow Submarine” by an English band called The Beatles. The spacey “Alive” was up next followed by the reggae-influenced “Train Luck> Inspector Gadget Theme.” Only a handful of songs had been executed and I could already tell that their eclectic sound mixed with the funny, yet thought-provoking lyrics had abducted the room for the duration of their time on stage. My favorite part of the set was the appropriately placed “Another Brick In The Immigration Wall” which mashed up iconic Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin songs into a sing-a-long for the entire venue. Earlier in the day, an unmasked Darth Vader was sworn into the Oval Office, leaving me with a pit in my stomach that only comedy and good music could remedy. Thanks to Cousin Earth, I was able to leave our solar system for a while. As a first time Earthling follower, the group reminded me of a new creation from Taco Bell… it may not have been what I was expecting, but I ate it up and would absolutely order it again.
Voted the “Top 10 Best” AND “Top 10 Worst Names for a Band” in 2016 by CMJ, the jamtronica quartet, Space Bacon, hit the ground running with an almost 20-minute “Wolves” and even with minor technical difficulties, I was shocked to learn that this was their first time performing this beast live. In fact, three of the four songs in their Wintercourse performance were Space Bacon virgins, which made the performance an instant classic set for the up-and-coming funky-electronica group. They transitioned into the commonly played “Jupiter” as Sam Crespo on drums sped up the tempo and created a rave inside the tiny Factory. “Ice Planet” contained elements of trance and hard rock as the band seamlessly segued from one genre to the other. Kevin LeGall’s bass joined paths with Chris Gironda’s keys to knit together a labyrinth of danceable delight. Guitarist Jack Willard asked, “Do you guys want to hear new shit or old shit?” The crowd began calling out for different fan favorites before Willard pronounced, “F*ck you guys, we are doing new shit,” as they launched into “Prologue.” By far the wordiest tune they played on Friday, this new track was welcomed by the cult-like Baconators and at times had a complex Phishy vibe to it. Don’t let the short and sweet set list fool you on paper; this thing had fangs, horns and some kick-ass moves.
Chromatropic finished off the festivities with a unique jazz-fusion jam session spanning their career and highlighting their newest release, Abundance. The frequently played “Bloom” was tackled early on after transitioning out of a crowd-pleasing intro jam. One day when they release a Greatest Hits album, this track will make the cut due to its smooth sailing peaks and valleys. “Habanero” was the first song from the new album and one of my favorites considering I’m all about that bass that Moses Margel is slapping. Each member gets his time to shine during this spicy instrumental capped off by a Danny Caridi keyboard solo that will leave you in search of water. Just as it seemed the band couldn’t get any hotter, they segued into the second half of “The Abundance of Elements” where Andrew Carton showed off his impressive and intricate guitar skills. Mark Potter on midi and drums peppered in samples during the third one off Abundance entitled “Glove.” The soulful and funky jazz piece is part-Vulpeck, part-Thievery Corporation and part The Chainsmokers? You read that correctly. While a high school cheerleader may call “Closer” by The Chainsmokers, “so 2016,” Chromatropic was able to incorporate the cover right into their music and it fit like a glove.
The Brooklyn jam band scene is currently growing at an alarmingly satisfying rate and Friday night in the funkiest of boroughs, I was reminded that America continues to get greater every day. While these four bands may be fighting for the same cause, to make people dance, they are in no way clones of each other. Through their diversity and gender bending identities, they were able to come together and turn a surreal day into a sublime night.
Teddy Midnight Setlist: Veni Veni Veni, Turkish Silva, Trap Haus, Primordial > Velvet Slow Jam > Velvet Mist > Tree-O-Tree*, Air DNB
*Primordial through Tree-0-Tree first time played segue
Cousin Earth Setlist: Point of No Return>Yellow Submarine@>Point of No Return, Alive, Train Luck>Inspector Gadget, When the Dinosaurs Come Back from Outer-space!, Super Fun Laser Beams, I Got This, Another Brick in the Immigrant Wall$, Capricorn on the Cob
@ Beatles cover, ! BELT original, $ Led Zeppelin & Pink Floyd mash-up
Space Bacon Setlist: Wolves*^> Jupiter (end), Ice Planet*, Prologue*
*First time played, ^ bass malfunction, audible’d trio jam
Chromatropic Setlist: Intro> Bloom, Habanero > The Abundance of Elements@>Gaia, Glove> Closer*> Glove
Albany’s very own Lord Electro is a jamtronica power trio bringing a new sound to the Upstate region. Since forming in 2015, Lord Electro has been making large strides to show the music scene they mean business. With a stream of festival slots, shows with bands such as The New Deal and a library of recordings further proves that these guys are playing their cards correctly and have a drive to succeed. From the start of their show to completion Lord Electro likes to keep the dance party alive, with Dan Gerken (synth) Steve Mink (bass/synth) and Jordan LeFleur (drums).
NYS Music interviewed Lord Electro and learned more about them as a band and individually. Knowing them from previous bands and performing with them in the past meant a lot to me in regards to learning their approach and what’s driving them to do what they are doing. Keep your radar on for Lord Electro, they are a personal favorite and keep your eyes open for what’s to come this year, including their album Business, due out in March.
Jared Raphel: How did LE come to be?
Steve Mink: After Dan’s group, Timbre Coup and my group, Digital Dharma, split, Dan and Steve spoke about putting together a trio highly influenced by The New Deal. We needed a drummer to round off the trio.
Jordan LeFleur: For me, it all started when Dan would come over and hang at my apartment. He knew I played drums but didn’t really know what kind of a drummer I was. I played some jam music in the past and dance beats always felt very natural to me. So, Dan would come over and jam on my Micro Korg and I would just play over his riffs. After that Dan and I decided to take things into full swing and he mentioned that he had been jamming with a bass player. And that’s when I met Steve.
Dan Gerken: We always had Steve sit in with Timbre Coup and he knows his tones well so he’d be a perfect fit for a project. Jordan and I came together through a random Groovestick show and started jamming. Soon after, all three of us were together for a jam session and the rest was history.
JR: Is there a symbolic meaning behind LE’s name, who came up with it and what were some other choices?
SM: I wanted the name to play off our genres in some way. Because we play Electronic music, “Electro” seemed fitting. For some reason, I always thought “NORD” when hearing electro. Nord is a very popular award winning keyboard. So then I thought about it, and “Lord” popped in. With the DJ scene huge these days, Lord sounds like one person. So when someone hears the name, they think maybe we’re a DJ. But then come to find out that Lord Electro is actually three guys playing instruments, LIVE, as ONE, Lord Electro.
JR: You have a system of non verbal communications, utilizing hand signals. Explain this to me and how did you come about this procedure?
DG: I brought in some signals we had used for Timbre Coup and a couple other groups in improv sections that we were building. Each signal has it’s own key or structural meaning and Steve has been known to throw a couple sometimes too. At times I’ll point to a member and they’ll know to start a phrase where we all drop out and they hold it down/build another riff. It’s a great way to insure some semblance of layering and order with also limitless possibilities in an off the cuff setting, which we love.
JR: What is your goal while playing in a band?
SM: I want to be successful playing music, it would be a dream to be able to perform doing what I love and support a family while living that dream. At the same time, I want to make bodies dance, and see smiles from ear to ear. I want to feel a connection with the crowd. And that is just as fulfilling.
DG: This is a great question. There are many things this band satisfies for me. I get to improv, I get to form a sound with these guys that I feel is unique and different. I will always play music for enjoyment and i feel I’ve found a special group of guys to write with and share our music!
JL: I’ve always wanted to tour the country seeing new cities and meeting new people. For me music is an escape and a stress reliever. When I perform live nothing else matters. Especially when I see people getting down to LE, it completely enhances my performance. I would love nothing more than to see this band take off and become nationally known in the jamtronica scene.
JR: LE follows the theme of electronic/jamtronica, though you guys magically create it all with organic performance. Has the idea of implementing automated technology been discussed, thoughts?
SM: There has been some light talk of using some loops. But at the moment we’re not focused on it. We’re trying to keep the group as organic as possible.
JL: Eventually the time will come where we use some samples in our music but at the moment it’s 100% organic.
DG: You know its interesting you bring that up because we just played with our friends Teddy Midnight and I mentioned to Jordan getting into some of the Abelton programming they were doing. It created such well produced layers I was impressed. At the moment we are all mechanical and there’s a certain pride in that. But I wouldn’t be opposed to expanding into the automated world eventually!
JR: How has/does performing in a band effect your personal life?
SM: We all work full-time jobs aside from music. So we keep busy juggling. But we do make time for family. I’m lucky enough to have a girlfriend who actively supports our music, from promoting, to attending all the shows, and making custom clothing. She’s amazing and I’m happy I found someone who digs the music I create and the music we both enjoy.
JL: It can sometimes be tough juggling jobs, girlfriends, and a music schedule all at once, but we make it work.
DG: I have a wonderful five year old son and that’s a big part of my life. Each of us work. Music is a part of life and everything must be balanced. We are running a business and don’t want to burn out, rather we want to provide a good mixture of shows, recording, hanging together that lends itself to being a part of life not all of it. And in the end our girlfriends and families don’t hate us as much for being never present and the dynamic between band mates is always top notch because we share in those goals together.
JR: So what’s in store for Lord Electro this year?
SM: We’re starting off the year with a bunch of shows this winter including three nights with The G-Nome Project in MA,WNY and NYC. We’re releasing our full length studio album “Business” in march. we’re really stoked on how it’s turning out and we’re looking forward to releasing that to everyone including YOU at NYS Music! Our CD release party will be at The Hollow Bar and Kitchen in Albany along with Normal Instruments and the return of SOLARiS. We’re hoping for a great festival season this year. There’s so many great festivals we would love to play for.
The 120th annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will take place this year on Feb. 3-12. NYS Music is proud to present the 10 day line-up for The Waterhole Upstairs Music Lounge, which will feature 16 acts of both local artists and national touring acts.
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is the longest-running event of its kind in the eastern U.S. Originally established in 1897, the event has since grown into the 10-day celebration that it is today.
The Primate Fiasco uses instruments that are loud without electricity, giving them the opportunity to attack at any moment, in any location, with or without permission. No one is safe, not even an elevator or city bus. If the Primate Fiasco sees a dull moment somewhere, they will pop out of the nearest sewer drain or trash can to lead an irresistible dance party.
On stage, the sound is different. This band has pioneered what is possible with mind-bending accordion, funky pockets of a hyperactive Sousaphone player, and banjo that thinks it’s a Fender Strat. Add lyrics that grab hold of even the most inattentive audience and beats that channel surf like a remote that’s been sat upon. The music is always high energy and extremely imaginative. Most importantly, this is fun. People smile from the first beat to the last smoldering ash of what was previously a dance floor.
Annie in the Water’s music is a groovy combination of reggae, funk, rock, blues and jam, written with a conscious dose of positive vibes, unique melodies and intelligent lyrics. With the ability to fill an entire night with original music and also render well-known covers into a signature style, fans share extraordinary experiences that can’t be seen anywhere else.
After nine years performing more than 600 shows in over 13 states, the original duo of founding members Brad Hester and Michael Lashomb also lead a full band that will shock your soul into euphoria. The full band line-up includes featured members Joshua West (formerly of Lucid) on drums/percussion, Dillon Goodfriend (Fox Richardson) on keys/backing and Anthony Leombruno (Capital Zen) on Bass. Occasionally the lineup may feature percussionist Bill Bentz (Exit 30) and various woodwind or brass members.
Lucid decided to take a hiatus from touring in early 2016, after 13 years on the road. The band’s culminating performance in April captivated a sold out crowd at the newly renovated Strand Theater, in their hometown of Plattsburgh NY. Lucid’s only other appearance last year was at their home festival Backwoods Pondfest in Peru, NY. One of the reasons the band wanted to take a break from touring was so they could slow down and be more deliberate in their choice of venues and events. When asked about playing Winter Carnival in Saranac Lake, Lowell Wurster said “All the guys were really excited at the idea. We have been playing the Waterhole for many years, and we love Saranac Lake and the people who live there. We always have a blast up in the mountains; it truly is our second home.” In addition to a genuine love for the Adirondacks, the Waterhole has special meaning to Lucid because of its proprietors, Eric & Kiki. “They have done a stellar job keeping the music alive up there. The bands they are bringing in have raised the bar in the North Country music scene, and we are so excited to be a part of what they are creating. We want to help them keep the momentum building, ”
Eastbound Jesus draws on a mix of diverse influences from the worlds of bluegrass, country and rock and roll to develop their own sound that is at the same time distinctly familiar and completely original, one that they have dubbed “Northern Rock,” These six friends from the rural upstate New York town of Greenwich have released four studio albums and a live album over the past five years, all while packing venues across the northeast with an infectious energy that gets people smiling, dancing, and hollerin’!
Donna the Buffalo just celebrated their 25th year as a band and have proven to be a consistent purveyor of American music. What’s the recipe? To be sure, it’s infused with more spices than you’ll find at a Cajun cookout by way of a southern-fried, rockin’ country old-time jamboree. “For the dizzying array of styles and genres with which they work, Donna The Buffalo maintain a surprising level of consistency. The New York-based band has played around with folk, zydeco, and many other musical ideas over the course of their 25-year career, but they retain a sharp focus that has helped them create some truly lasting music,” writes Elmore Magazine.
If any band is a poster child for turning the power of positive thoughts and intention into reality, it’s the explosive horn-and-percussion trio Moon Hooch. In just a few short years, the group—Wilbur, fellow horn player Wenzl McGowen, and drummer James Muschler—has gone from playing on New York City subway platforms to touring with the likes of Beats Antique, They Might Be Giants, and Lotus, as well as selling out their own headline shows in major venues around the country. On Red Sky, their third and most adventurous album to date, the band uses everything they’ve learned from their whirlwind journey to push their sound to new heights, bringing together the raw, transcendent energy of their live performances and the sleek sophistication of their studio work into a singular, intoxicating brew that blends elements of virtuoso jazz, groovy funk, and pulse-pounding electronic dance music.
Currently based out of Massachusetts, the vocal cord conductor known as Honeycomb has quickly risen to the top of the food chain of northeast beatboxers, placing 13th in the 2015 American Beatbox Championships. With a unique approach as an equally versed music producer, and a frequent collaborator in both the live and studio settings, Honeycomb has built a sound fan base for himself through original productions and ear popping performances.
Jiggawaltz is a six piece band hailing from Burlington, VT and Upstate NY focused on performance, engaging their audience with tightly woven compositions and elegant sections of improvisation. Fusing together many influences including classic rock, funk, electronic dance music, Latin jazz, soul, disco, and metal to create a unique pallet of sounds sure to entertain audiences from all walks of life. With original songs that uniquely decorate time with melody and harmony and a large repertoire of covers, Jiggawaltz often blends songs together to create a rich collage of sound.
Spirit Family Reunion is a touring band based out of New York that aims to deliver raw, high-energy honest music. They have self-produced and self-released two full-length albums (No Separation in 2012 and Hands Together in 2015) as well as multiple songbooks and other collections of recordings.
Folkfaces is a group out of Buffalo, NY that plays a rowdy blend of rootsy folk, jazz, and blues, fusing classic forms with contemporary feelings and irresistibly danceable energy. Their inspiration comes from the mountains of Appalachia to the deltas of Mississippi, the swamps of Louisiana to the concrete jungle of the Rustbelt. Specializing in merriment and sticking it to the system, Folkfaces make the crowd dance and the hierarchy shatter.
Swampcandy is an internationally touring, primitive blues influenced Americana duo. Ruben Dobbs’ aggressive finger-picking and rhythmic style (which often adds up to sounding like more than one guitar) combined with Joey Mitchell’s bass playing, pounding kick drum and percussive bass throttling (representing the presence of a full drum kit) easily fill up the sonic space normally created by a trio or even a four-piece. Dobbs’ soulful, passionate vocals are the glue that holds it all together and makes the band tick.
Since their conception, ten piece funk/soul band West End Blend has been playing their version of funk and soul in venues all over the Northeast. Fronted by vocalist Erica Bryan, the band pays homage to classic throwback sounds while adding their own distinct vibe and flair. Behind her, the Blend packs a four-piece horn section, two guitars, bass, keyboards and drums onto stages every night. From humble beginnings in an epic sweaty funky basement dance party, the Blend’s goal has always been to bring that same atmosphere to every show.
To understand Bella’s Bartok, imagine what you would get if Salvador Dali and Toulouse Lautrec were fronting the Moulin Rouge’s house band, and you have the exuberant spectacle that is Bella’s Bartok. Described as “about as much fun as you can have with your pants on” (Dan Wolovick, Two Way Monologues), this six-piece powerhouse melds Bohemian Klezmer punk with pop sensibilities into an eminently danceable party. The diversity of musicians that make up Bella’s Bartok, combined with their boundless energy on stage, has been known to break a dance floor, or two (or three, but who’s counting?). Their sound moves way beyond labels, pushing the envelope towards the darker side of Eastern European music, referencing Vaudeville and 20th century eclecticism.
February 12– Folkfaces
Folkfaces is a group out of Buffalo, NY that plays a rowdy blend of rootsy Folk, Jazz, and Blues – fusing classic forms with contemporary feelings and irresistibly danceable energy. Their inspiration comes from the mountains of Appalachia to the deltas of Mississippi, the swamps of Louisiana to the Concrete Jungle of the Rustbelt. Specializing in merriment and sticking it to the system, Folkfaces make the crowd dance and the hierarchy shatter.
On Tuesday night in the historic Greenwich Village,Medeski Martin and Wood returned for the second night of their sold-out Le Poisson Rouge run. The room was damp from the weather outside and the lights were dimmed as The Thunderclouds welcomed the audience to the ceremony with a Native American chant. John Medeski, Chris Wood, and Billy Martin joined behind the three tribal drummers from Wisconsin, as the two trios became one on stage, igniting the crowd in an almost euphoric fashion.
The slow building jam picked up as the Thunderclouds exited the stage and morphed into an extended rendition of “Where’s Sly” off their second album It’s A Jungle In Here. Each member got their time in the spotlight as the crowd shook off the winter chill with a variety of dance moves. Up next was “Amber Gris” from Radiolarians II. The beginning of that track would serve as an excellent hip-hop beat and as much as I wanted to attempt to freestyle in front of my friends, I was able to contain myself in a room full of MMW veterans armed to give a solid “STFU” at any moment.
The first set came to a fantastic finish as the trio embraced the spirit of New Orleans with the danceable “Coconut Boogaloo” from the Combustication album. Bleecker Street in Manhattan felt a lot like Bourbon Street in Louisiana after a Mardi Gras parade as the packed room grooved to the Creole-influenced jam. While New Orleans is considered the birthplace of jazz, NYC is the birthplace of MMW and as set break began, longtime fans reminisced about seeing their baby all grown up after all these years.
Set two brought us back to the Bayou with a swampy “Seven Deadlies,” most recognized from the live album, Tonic. The mesmerizing bass solo by Wood had the crowd in a trance before handing the baton over to Medeski to work his magic. There were moments when Herbie Hancock’s Chameleon album came to life during the 15-minute plus jam and the crowd adapted to every minute of it. A loose version of “Undone” off Radiolarians III created space for the most soulful tune of the night, “Everyday People,” which is the second one played from Combustication. Medeski has spent a lot of time taking the crowd to church with his super-group, The Word, and the gospel influenced tune transformed the room into a sanctuary for a peaceful ten minutes of bliss. A haunting drum solo by the master, Billy Martin, quickly turned into “Nostalgia in Times Square/ Angel Race” where the golden oldies “On Broadway” can be heard teased throughout. Medeski went back and forth from the organ to the keys and despite no psychedelic influence, I am fairly certain he had four arms during that jam much like Goro from Mortal Kombat.
The always funky “Pappy Check” and “Partido Alto” got the blood flowing as this one-two punch ended the second set. The legendary band definitely didn’t need any introduction, but Martin announced the group anyway. When they returned for a much deserved encore, Billy remarked how right next door, the venue that was once the Village Gate was where they played their first ever show. Fans, friends and family of the band rejoiced as they launched into one of their most well known grooves, “Bubblehouse,” off the iconic Shack-man album. The trio shifted into high gear and revved the engine for an extended encore that left the crowd more than satisfied.
The 3-show January residency in their old stomping grounds came about because Chris Wood was hospitalized during the originally scheduled October dates. It was amazing to see the band sonically tight and physically healthy after the brief scare last fall. While the band does not tour as much as they once had, the spirit of experimental jazz is stronger thanks to 25 years of MMW. Cheers to another 25.
Set 1: Thunderbird Chanting>Jam, LPR Jam, Where’s Sly?, Amber Gris, Coconut Boogaloo> Jam
Set 2: Seven Deadlies, Undone, Everyday People*, Drum/ Percussion Solo, Nostalgia in Times Square/ Angel Race!, Pappy Check, Partido Alto
Phantogram played to a sold-out crowd in Clifton Park Saturday with New York City-based We Are Scientists. Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel of Phantogram spoke of their love for Upstate NY throughout the set and even Sarah’s mother was in attendance. They electrified the crowd with new gems like “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” and threw down with the classic “When I’m Small.”
Setlist: Funeral Pyre, Black Out Days, Turning Into Stone, Don’t Move, You’re Mine, Same Old Blues, Answer, Mouthful, Howling At The Moon, Bad Dreams, Destroyer, When I’m Small. Encore: Cruel World, Fall In Love, You Don’t Get Me High Anymore.
Folk singer Ed Sheeran, wrote one of the hottest crossover EDM tracks of 2016. Only thing is, he forgot he wrote it. Your EDM reports that DJ/producer and Major Lazer member Diplo, tried to contact Sheeran wanting the song “Cold Water”. Sheeran, not knowing what Diplo was talking about, just blew off the text message. The track that features Justin Bieber and MO is currently certified twice platinum by the RIAA.
Ed Sheeran – CMAC
Diplo contacted Sheeran again telling the singer that Bieber wanted in on the song, and if it would be OK. Still not knowing what Diplo was talking about, it took until Sheeran heard the track on the radio to trigger the light bulb over his head.
Ed Sheeran stated about the EDM track:
‘Cold Water’ was a weird one because I didn’t even know that song existed. It was a song I must’ve half-written somewhere at a time where I was writing a lot of songs and I did it at Benny Blanco’s house and then I got an email from Diplo just being like, ‘Yo! That ‘Cold Water’ song is dope! Can I have it?’ And I was like, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ so I just didn’t reply. And then he emailed and was like, ‘Yo, Justin [Bieber] wants to hop on the ‘Cold Water’ song. Is that cool?’ And I’m just like, ‘What are you talking about?’… And then the song came out and it was number one and I was like ‘Oh, that song!’ I remember doing it, but it was really, really slow. I remember hearing it and being like ‘That kind of sounds like me. Oh wait, it was me.
On Friday, Jan. 20, the 6th Annual Wintercourse will be held at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn for an evening with some of the area’s top acts, known as The Brooklyn Jam Syndicate: Teddy Midnight, Cousin Earth, Space Bacon and Chromatropic.
The evening will kick off with Teddy Midnight taking the stage at 8:30 p.m. Teddy Midnight delivers a mix of progressive rock, drum and bass, jazz and downtempo at their shows; a self-titled genre they term as “Electro-Dance-Funk.” They’ve played sold out shows at other prominent NYC establishments like Irving Plaza, Brooklyn Bowl, Gramercy Theater and Bowery Ballroom. They’ve shared the stage with Dopapod, Consider the Source, The Werks, Twiddle and other successful touring acts.
Cousin Earth will take the stage at 9:45 p.m. Cousin Earth is a progressive ukulele rock band, and you can expect anything from bluegrass to electronica from this Brooklyn act with a wide repertoire of both original and cover songs. They have played over 170 shows throughout the Northeast United States, from Maine to Pennsylvania, and have shared the stage with other acts like Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, Future Folk, Andy Frasco, Rustic Overtones, and many more. Their full-length album is set to be released sometime this year.
Space Bacon will take over at 11 p.m. to keep the evening going. This local four-piece act will bring their own version of progressive electronica & funk rock. The name “Space Bacon” emerged from the love of Kevin Bacon and Kevin Spacey. At the end of 2016, the group released a “Best of 2016” digital album of their best performances of the year.
Rounding off the evening, Chromatropic will be the last act at 12:15 a.m. Their sound is described as “live organic neo-psychedelia,” and they deliver a truly original show that you don’t want to miss.
Fuck, 2016! That was the prevailing feeling for many people in our country as we lurched toward year’s end. So many beloved musicians died. There were bombings, searing police confrontations and there was the near apocalyptic collapse of democracies around the world. Many pundits included our country in that post-mortem.
But, I had personal reasons to feel disheartened to reflect on the year that was. My father’s memorial service was on my birthday. He died of brain cancer while my sister struggled with the awful pain and physical indignities of chemotherapy due to her diagnosis of cancer. Fuck 2016, indeed, I thought.
But sometimes better angels descend on us to reflect the better parts of our nature, bringing hope, laughter, and perhaps a little magic. And that is precisely what happened on New Year’s Eve in Denver, Colorado in a tucked away corner of the downtown business district. Sensi Mag, SOCO Nightlife and The Fantastic Hosts organization presented a dream-like reverie of music, dance, art, and joy at the year-end event, dubbed Higher Society at the City Hall venue.
The evening, intended as an ode to the medicinal quality of marijuana, community and creativity, quickly lifted spirits with an opening speaking/meet and greet with visionary artists Alex and Allyson Grey. Self-reflection quickly turned to celebration with a jolt of tribal rock rhythms and searing guitar jams from the Tierro Lee Band. The lilting melodies of Elephant Revival fiddler, Bridget Law gave an ethereal quality to the percussive jams. That joyful set alone quickly dispensed any lingering bittersweet feeling or antipathy regarding the passing year. Still the evening was only beginning.
Following on the main stage was the expansive beauty of Quixotic an impressive group that combines an astounding mix of aerialist/ fire/ music performances. Throughout the venue numerous other visual artists, and DJs performed, including Stööki Sound, Androcell, and Johnathan Singer.
The Grey duo led the New Year countdown as Random Rab began his crowd-pleasing bass-thumping set. Without the spectacle of confetti, balloons or champagne salutes, a group of musicians, performers, and artists offered a night to recall that even in the most troubled of moments there is always reason for hope. And there is always beauty, even in dimly-lit corners of reality.
Marco Benevento is set to blastoff in 2017 with a new album and tour on tap. The multi-instrumentalist dubbed the Mad Hatter will start the year spinning forty-fives for an intimate hometown get down at the Catskill Mountain Pizza Company in Woodstock, NY on January 7. Teaming up with music journalist Brian Turk, the event is called Brian Turk and Mr. D present “I’m a DJ Too,” and will feature tasty pizza and beer from the Catskill Brewery, not to mention a set of fresh cuts straight from Marco’s head to the floor. But only 75 tickets will be available. Click here to get yours.
Later in the month, Benevento will launch a tour in support of the Feb. 17 release of The Woodstock Sessions, a new live album recorded last September at Applehead Studios. The first show will take place on Jan. 30 at Funk ‘n Waffles Downtown in Syracuse. Local Grateful Dead tribute act, Pearly Baker’s Best, will open. Tickets are $20 at the door and $15 in advance. Tickets are available through Ticketfly for the Syracuse show.
Other New York stops for the Woodstock resident include Buffalo, at The Iron Works on Jan. 31, Ithaca, at The Rongo on Feb. 1, The Brooklyn Bowl on Feb. 2, and at The Hollow in Albany on Feb. 3. See below for full tour information.
With a full schedule ahead of him, Marco Benevento has gone ahead with a Pledge Music campaign that will put fans at the forefront of his new album and musical adventures throughout his 2017 tour stops. Packages include a chance to pre-order The Woodstock Sessions, opportunities to receive show tickets, signed setlists, a bookshelf made from Marco’s grand piano, a band lesson, or even the chance to record with Marco at Fred Short Studios in Woodstock, NY; plus, Marco is making himself available to spin vinyl or play a solo piano concert at a lucky fan’s private party. More information is available here.
Tour Dates:
Jan. 30 – Syracuse, NY – Funk ‘N Waffles Jan.31 – Buffalo, NY – Iron Works ^ Feb. 1 – Ithaca, NY – The Rongo Feb. 2 – Brooklyn NY – Brooklyn Bowl * Feb. 3 – Albany NY – The Hollow ^^
Feb. 4 – Burlington VT – Higher Ground
Feb. 6 – Portland, ME – One Longfellow Square
Feb. 7 – Hamden, CT – The Ballroom at The Outer Space ***
Feb. 8 – Holyoke, MA – Gateway Arts
Feb. 9 – Boston MA – The Sinclair *
Feb. 10 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall *
Feb. 11 – Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Live **
March 25-26 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Festival
March 31 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
April 1 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
April 2 – Avon, CO – Agave
April 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
April 5 – Bozeman, MT – The Filling Station
April 6 – Spokane, WA – The Bartlett
April 7 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
April 8 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
April 9 – Eugene, OR – Hi Fi Music Hall
April 11 – Bend, OR – The Capitol
April 12 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
April 13 – Petaluma, CA – The Mystic Theatre
April 14 – San Francisco, CA – Independent
April 15 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bootleg
* w/WOLF!
** w/Psycho Killers
*** w/Superhuman Happiness
^ w/Mayabird
^^ w/Mayabird + Band of Ghosts
Datsik, what is there to say about him? His visual effects were captivating; he had screens set up that took up the entire stage, his new stage setup was by Shogun stage production. He ditched the vortex this tour. The beats he created released the crowd into an animalistic behavior. The crowd was a bit out of control. Sitting on the platform you could see everything going on.
Jared Raphel: How did LE come to be?
JR: LE follows the theme of electronic/jamtronica, though you guys magically create it all with organic performance. Has the idea of implementing automated technology been discussed, thoughts?
The 120th annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will take place this year on Feb. 3-12. NYS Music is proud to present the 10 day line-up for 
Currently based out of Massachusetts, the vocal cord conductor known as 
Spirit Family Reunion
Since their conception, ten piece funk/soul band 
To understand 
The first set came to a fantastic finish as the trio embraced the spirit of New Orleans with the danceable “Coconut Boogaloo” from the Combustication album. Bleecker Street in Manhattan felt a lot like Bourbon Street in Louisiana after a Mardi Gras parade as the packed room grooved to the Creole-influenced jam. While New Orleans is considered the birthplace of jazz, NYC is the birthplace of MMW and as set break began, longtime fans reminisced about seeing their baby all grown up after all these years.
Set two brought us back to the Bayou with a swampy “Seven Deadlies,” most recognized from the live album, 
The evening will kick off with