NYS Music 20​17

Category: NYC Metro

  • Online Voting Helps Create Most Diverse List of Nominees in GRAMMY’s History

    The Recording Academy has released its list of nominees for the 2018 GRAMMY Awards, taking place in Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28. This year’s list of nominees will be the most diverse in the history of the Recording Academy. The academy has, for the first time, allowed online GRAMMY nominations from its 1,300 members which has helped increase participation in the voting process.

    Album of the Year nods went to Awaken, My Love! by Childish Gambino, 4:44 by Jay-Z,
    DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar, Melodrama by Lorde and 24K Magic by Bruno Mars. This marks the most minority nominees in the Album of the Year category since 2005. Jay-Z is nominated for a total of eight Grammys. Lamar is next with seven, followed by Mars with six Grammy nods.

    A noticeable snub in the album category this year is perennial nominee, Ed Sheeran. Sheeran was nominated in the categories of Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance.

    Nominees in other categories include Gregg Allman’s posthumous release, Southern Blood, for Best Americana Album. Allman’s album is nominated alongside Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit’s The Nashville Sound, Iron & Wine’s Beast Epic, the Mavericks’ Brand New Day and Brent Cobb’s Shine on Rainy Day.

    The Infamous Stringdusters received their second ever Grammy nomination, this time in the Best Bluegrass Album category for Laws of Gravity. Other nominees in that category are Noam Pikelny, Michael Cleveland, Bobby Osborne and Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.

    The Best Contemporary Blues Category nominees include Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Tedeschi Trucks Band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band and Sonny Landreth.

    Leonard Cohen, who died late last year, is nominated in two categories. Cohen’s nods include one for Best American Roots Performance and, curiously, for Best Rock Performance. Bob Dylan also garnered a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for his album Triplicate, his third consecutive album to mine the Great American Songbook. The Rolling Stones tribute to the blues, Blue and Lonesome is nominated in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.

    The 60th Annual Grammy Awards, hosted by James Corden, will be broadcast on CBS Jan. 28. For the complete list of nominees, visit the Grammy Awards website here.

  • Hearing Aide: Vendetta ‘Press Play [and Live]’

    Brooklyn-based alternative hip hop artist Vendetta has released his debut album Press Play [and Live]. After cutting his teeth in the music industry as the front man for Hollywood Drive-By, Vendetta is striking out on his own with this solo project.

    Armed with a microphone, a laptop, and a deep-seated love for rhythm, Vendetta (aka Vijay Ramcharitar) weaves together stylistically divergent influences. Funky rhythms and rocking riffs pave a foundation for his raps. As the moniker Vendetta implies, his lyrical themes are rife with conflict. Urban survival vs. escapism. Violence vs. humanitarianism. Dive bars vs. block parties.

    Lead track “The Getaway (Vendetta Day)” is a groovy number about getting away from the stress of city life for a cruise along the East Coast. The song melds together an array of influences, from old-school hip hop artists like Tupac to alternative rock in the vein of Red Hot Chili Peppers. “Two Things” further explores the impact that music has to uplift spirits in the face of adversity. The chorus goes “Two things I remembered: the CD that I picked / And the feeling I got when I pressed play and lived.” The feel-good summer jam “BBQ Sauce” features the vocal styling of friend and fellow musician Rocksteady (Jason Hernandez).

    Press Play [and Live] was recorded at Westfall Recording Company, Farmingdale NY, with production and engineering by Nick “Karate” Gallick.

    Key Tracks: The Getaway (Vendetta Day), Two Things, BBQ Sauce.

  • Provocado “Only You” Video takes a look at New York City

    New York-based Provocado – the duo of Derek Chilvers and Eric Essebag (owner and curator of Caché Life) melding eclectic backgrounds with R&B compositions, pop, rock and more, debut with their single “Only You.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOhN63GHCgg

    “Only You” features Chilvers’ soothing baritone vocals over meticulous keyboard patterns and Essebag’s unique guitar riffs soar over subdued production. The black and white video portrays a day-in-the-life of a metropolitan woman walking the streets of Manhattan. The viewer observes her as she appears seemingly reluctant to find satisfaction and inner peace from the everyday lifestyles of New York City, but captures the subtleties and nuances of city life in a truly mesmerizing way.  Listen to “Only You” on Spotify.

  • Arlo Guthrie Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Carnegie Hall debut

    Arlo Guthrie celebrates the 50th anniversary of his Carnegie Hall debut with his Annual Thanksgiving Concert on Saturday, Nov. 25. Over the years, the holiday tradition has included performances with the likes of Pete Seeger and Judy Collins, and Bob Dylan. Joining him on stage this year are his children, Abe and Sarah Lee, as well as Cathy and Annie Guthrie and other members of the family, building upon the musical legacy created by Guthrie’s father, Woody Guthrie.

    Arlo Guthrie Carnegie HallCatch Guthrie and family at Carnegie Hall or other dates on their Re: Generation Tour:

    Nov. 18 – Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center – Great Barrington, MA
    Nov. 25 – Carnegie Hall – New York, NY
    Nov. 26 – Key West Theatre – Key West, FL
    Nov. 27 – Key West Theatre – Key West, FL
    March 9 – Sheldon Concert Hall – St. Louis, MO
    March 10 – The Carlsen Center – Overland Park, KS
    March 24 – Lensic Theater – Santa Fe, NM
    March 28 – The Fox Theatre – Tucson, AZ
    March 29 – Mesa Arts Center – Ikeda Theater – Mesa, AZ
    March 30 – Orpheum Theater – Flagstaff, AZ
    April 5 – Saban Theatre – Beverly Hills, CA
    May 3 – Reif Center – Grand Rapids, MN
    May 4 – Holmes Theater – Detroit Lakes, MN
    May 11 – Mayo Performing Arts Center — Morristown, NJ
    May 12 — Patchogue Theatre — Patchogue, NY
    May 18 – The Colonia Theatre — Keene, NH
    May 19 – McCarter Theatre — Princeton, NJ
    May 20 – Grand Opera House — Wilmington, DE

  • Help those in need at Jam for Tots Shows throughout NYS this Holiday Season

    NYS Music along with Positive Mental Trip present 13 Jam for Tots shows throughout New York State (and one in Connecticut) to help those most in need this holiday season. Fans who attend any of these shows are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift for a child age 2-12.

    help jam for totsEight bands are part of the Jam for Tots lineup this year, a charitable effort that brings live music and holiday season charity. Luke Weiler (Positive Mental Trip) has brought this series of shows to venues around Northeast, and has been expanded this year to span across New York State and includes 87/90 artists Intrepid Travelers, Cousin Earth, Formula 5, Space Carnival, Gowanus and Let’s Be Leonard, as well as Funkworthy and Chinatown Lights.

    Bring an unwrapped gift for a 2-12 year old and the gifts will be gathered by USMC representatives. Give back to those most in need this holiday season and enjoy a great show at the same time!

  • Whose Hat Is This? First Ever East Coast Tour

    Tedeschi Trucks Band side project Whose Hat Is This? is set to make its first tour down the east coast. The six night tour brings them from New York City down to the Atlanta metropolitan area.

    Whose Hat Is This? is made up of Tedeschi Trucks Band members Tim Lefebvre on bass, Kebbi Williams on saxophone and JJ Johnson and Tyler “Falcon” Greenwell on drums. Their shows combine elements of jazz, funk and electronica into completely improvised sets. Their self-titled debut album was released in April.

    The tour kicks off on Dec. 4 at New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall and continues for six consecutive nights down the coast until they close it out on Dec. 9 at Gate City Brewery in Roswell, Georgia. This tour sees the band coming off two sold out shows at New York City’s 55 Bar in October. The only other Northeast show is Dec. 5 at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia.

    The tour was booked with assistance from Craft for Causes who partner the craft brewing community with live music ventures for charitable experiences.

    Whose Hat Is This? East Coast Tour Dates
    Dec. 4 – Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY
    Dec. 5 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
    Dec. 6 – The 8×10 – Baltimore, MD
    Dec. 7 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
    Dec. 8 – The Pour House – Charleston, SC
    Dec. 9 – Gate City Brewery – Roswell, GA

  • Dead & Company Kick Off Their 2017 Fall Tour At Madison Square Garden

    Dead & Company kicked off their 2017 Fall Tour on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY. This was the first time back to the famous venue since their inaugural Fall tour in 2015. Dead & Company members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti took the stage shortly after 7 p.m.

    dead company Madison Square GardenWith the crowd excited to see what the band was going to open with, they started the night off with a unique “Shakedown Street.” Next, Dead & Company finally debuted “Greatest Story Ever Told.” The crowd erupted, making it one of the highlights of the night. This was followed by “Bertha,” giving John Mayer his first chance to sing. After a jam filled “Cassidy,” the band gave birth to the live debut of “Beat It On Down The Line” which was led by Bob Weir.

    Following the live debut was “They Love Each Other.” Towards the end of the the song, the band had a hiccup. It took them about a minute to figure out where to transition from the end of the song into “Cumberland Blues.” Once they were fully into the song, they shook off the cobwebs and went ahead leaving the awkward moment in the dust.

    Dead & Company started off the second set with the familiar combo of “China Cat Sunflower”>”I Know Your Rider” followed by “Ship of Fools.” Next was an electrifying “Terrapin Station,” leaving the Rhythm Devils to follow with their regulatory “Drums” > “Space.” The second set ended with “Casey Jones” giving the crowd another chance to sing along. With the crowd roaring for more, Dead & Company took the stage for a double encore featuring “Samson and Delilah” and “Werewolves of London” where Mayer and Weir traded verses.

    dead company Madison Square Garden

    Setlist:

    Set 1: Shakedown Street, Greatest Story Ever Told, Bertha, Cassidy, Beat It On Down The Line, They Love Each Other, Cumberland Blues

    Set 2: China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Ship of Fools, Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > Standing on the Moon, The Other One, Casey Jones

    Encore: Samson and Delilah, Werewolves of London

    dead company Madison Square Garden

  • moe. Announces Return

    moe. went on indefinite hiatus in July of this year following bassist Rob Derhak’s cancer diagnosis. Derhak underwent treatments for nasopharyngeal cancer throughout the summer and is now fit to take the stage again. moe announced Tuesday that it will return to perform two dates at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre Feb. 2 and 3.

    moe. was forced to cancel the remainder of their scheduled dates following Derhak’s diagnosis. His most recent performance with the band was at the Huckleberry Jam in Idaho on July 28. They will perform two sets each of the two nights at the Capitol. For the Feb. 2 show, they will be joined by Kung Fu. Feb. 3 will be “An Evening With moe.”

    A limited amount of pre-sale tickets will be available through Ticketfly beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15.  General on-sale begins Friday, Nov. 17 at 10:00 a.m., again through Ticketfly.

    No other dates were announced by the band. Derhak issued a statement with the announcement:

    It’s been a tough few months, and I couldn’t have done it without the overwhelming support of my family, and my famoe.ly.  And although it’s still not clear what the future brings, the positivity and love that I’m feeling for moe.’s and my next chapter is beyond exciting.  I feel like a kid counting down the days until Christmas, and our energy as a band, is like nothing I’ve experienced before.  Thank you all for the well wishes, prayers, and healing vibes.

  • Listen to the new Teddy Midnight Lineup

    On Saturday November 4, Teddy Midnight returned to the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn with a new lineup for their first hometown gig in months. The genre bending duo In Flux and party-starting DJ Tucci kicked off the night. Teddy Midnight, now consisting of bassist Sean Silva, drummer Adam Magnan, and new member Danny Caridi formerly of Chromatropic on keys, debuted brand new material including originals and covers. 

    teddy midnight lineupThe trio kicked off the set with a cover of The Chemical Brothers “Go,” setting the tone for the night. Next up was the new original “Menudo Phalanges” that is a high energy disco romp in the vein of LCD Soundsystem’s relentless grooves. After a cover of EDM classic “We Are Your Friends” by Justice and Simian, the trio invited former Chromatropic guitarist Andrew Carton to the stage. Carton ripped through the first old Teddy song of the set, “Velvet Mist,” and continued through another new tune, the funky deep house influenced “French Press” and then a jam filled cover of the New Deal‘s “Back to the Middle.” The trio then threw down a cover of Deadmau5’s “Some Chords” that lead into the third new song of the night “Moon Funk” and a raucous cover of Prodigy’s big beat hit “Smack My B****Up,” an ode to cranking up the volume on a DJ mixer, a fitting end to a high energy set.

    The band’s exciting new direction is sure to turn heads and get crowds dancing from start to finish. Upcoming shows include The Hollow Bar and Kitchen in Albany Dec. 8 and Pacific Standard Tavern in New Haven on Dec. 9, both with Consider the Source, followed by a return to New York City on Dec. 28 to play a Phish Pre Party at American Beauty. Listen to the set below!

    Setlist: Go, Menudo Phalanges, We Are Your Friends, Velvet Mist >French Press, J > Back to the Middle, Some Chords, Moon Funk, Smack My B**** Up

  • The Other Brothers CD Release Party Meets Sold-Out Crowd in NYC

    New Paltz’s The Other Brothers have been playing music for a few years now, but this fall have released their debut EP, Jones. With roots of rock and funk laced with a blend of soul, The Other Brothers rightfully claimed NYS Music’s readers’ pick as band on the rise last year. On Sept. 30, The Other Brothers celebrated the release of their debut studio album.

    American Beauty, a perfectly sized music club located just around the corner from Madison Square Garden, hosted the band’s first sold out show with an incredible amount of energy on stage and in the crowd. Opening the show was NYC/Brooklyn’s own Huck, who put on a solid show and a closing DJ set was provided by Michael Suarez.

    From the moment Chris Owen (vocals) and John Morrison (guitar) took the stage for an opening duet before the full band came on, American Beauty was lit up with plenty of loyal enthusiasm. One of the captivating elements of the show was their ability to create a variety of moods throughout their sets, and even within songs. Behind Morrison and Owen were Jordan Mendelson (bass), Brandon Bera (drums), Jared Nelson (percussion), and Gabriel Marquez (keys). The flow of their work on stage came through as seamless, a sign of professionalism in musicianship, which combined with their character on stage created a downright enjoyable listening experience to dance to.

    The Other Brothers show can most simply be summed up as the mark of a local Hudson Valley band who continues to be on the rise.

    Jones is available over at their Bandcamp page.While we wait for a music video shot at the end of their American Beauty show, you can check out a video released for “A2W” here.