NYS Music 20​17

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  • Frank Palangi Shines at Lucky Strike Social

    On Friday, Feb 17, local rock artist from Upstate NY, Frank Palangi, and his band, had the sold out crowd at Jupiter Hall inside the Lucky Strike Social located at the Crossgates Mall in Albany, on their feet. Opening for Red Sun Rising and Badflower, Palangi performed all his fan favorite tracks, and threw a cover in by Full Devil Jacket. The boys more than did their job, and after their set, they had the sold out venue more than ready for a rock show.

    New York state is filled with a tremendous amount of musical talent on the rise. Whether you’re a local writer, photographer, or both, NYS Music is one of the leaders when it comes to promoting local talent chasing down their dreams in the music industry, while we hone our crafts by covering these artists.

    Palangi got right down to business, and rocked out track after track, which is expected, since he was slated in the crucial spot of opening the show to warm the crowd up. In the end, he and his band rocked the faces off everyone inside Jupiter Hall. It was obvious by the crowds reaction, and those who have not ever seen Palangi perform, and wrote him off as just a local talent not worthy, had their minds changed in a heartbeat making a perfect example why fans should show up early to events, and take in all the artist on the bill.

    This group of musicians have a good chemistry on stage. They come off as well polished veterans in the business with their stage presence, playing style, and personality which are traits you look for in a band. All three seemed to be genuinely having a blast on stage.

    Palangi is really coming together as an artist, and owned the crowd with his deep husky vocals and catchy rock tunes. His confidence and professionalism on stage grows with each performance. The Queensbury native opened the show with the track “Break These Chains,” which he recorded with Daughtry guitarist Brian Craddock, at Craddock’s recording studio in Virginia. Before the band played the single “I’m Waiting,” drummer Josh Opitz held down the beat, as Palangi tossed out free merchandise to the crowd. New guitarist Dillon Swertner, is very charismatic in showing off his guitar skills throughout the bands set.

    Palangi is no stranger when it comes to opening up shows for national artist. He has opened up shows and festivals that have included several major rock artists including Shinedown, Megadeth, Alice in Chains, Ghost, Janes Addiction, Buckcherry, 3 Doors Down, Trapt, Lacey Sturm, Powerman 5000 and Aaron Lewis to name a few.

    Electric is not his only forte, Palangi holds many acoustic shows across the region. He has upcoming shows on March 25, at Mean Max Brew Works in Glens Falls, and April 21 at Dinosaur BBQ in Troy. Frank Palangi consists of himself on vocals and guitar, Josh Opitz (drums), and Dillon Swertner (guitar).

    Setlist: Break These Chains – I Am Ready – Now You Know (Full Devil Jacket Cover) – Thank You – Jam – I’m Waiting – Turn It All Around

  • Hearing Aide: The Bowling Alley Sound ‘The Bowling Alley Sound EP’

    On Friday, February 24, New Jersey’s own The Bowling Alley Sound will release their self-titled EP on their label 46 West. Their sophomore release brings musical and physical growth, as the original 4-piece has now transformed into a quintet with the addition of bassist and album cover artist, Andrew Capuano.

    The post-rock follow up to their 2014 debut, Metaphysical You, begins with the most energetic release of the four-track list, “Henry and Clark.” Well-known bands in the post-rock genre such as Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai can be heard echoed in their opening song as EP producer and guitarist, Mike Basil, kicks it off with a soft and subtle rift. Nick Looney’s drum playing anchors the song in place until the final section finds Issac Rubins’ violin eerily bringing the song to an end.

    “Night Flight” recreated the rich and repetitive textures heard in the first track, but much like the song title, the listener is reminded of dreams about flying. While the song will not make you want to get up and dance, or get up at all really, it would fit well at a yoga studio, meditation session, or music score of a Planet Earth episode.

    During the final two tracks, they inject muffled crowd noise to bring the listening audience together as one with the band. The group attempts vocals for the first time during the closing track, “The Conversation Of The Street Lights Will Pass As Quickly As Our Words,” a title almost as long as the EP itself. The post-rock vocal approach is very different from the typical verse-chorus structure found in many other rock genres, and The Bowling Alley Sound stay true to form using soft, spoken words to poetically describe a 2017 New Year’s resolution. While I would have liked to hear more trumpet textures from Danny Molloy, the final track sends the listener off in a tranquil and serene mood.

    The digital-only release of The Bowling Alley Sound will be available on all major platforms and can be pre-ordered now for only $1 (US currency).

    Key Tracks: Henry and Clark, The Conversation Of The Street Lights Will Pass As Quickly As Our Words

  • Joe Beard, Gary Lewis and Uncle Rog Among Inductees to Rochester Music Hall of Fame

    The Rochester Music Hall of Fame 2017 announced the names of the 2017 inductees this week. The honorees are Samuel Adler, Joe Beard, Gary Lewis, Uncle Roger McCall, Greg Sullivan and the Penny Arcade, and Lewis Soloff. The induction ceremony, which will include several performances and tributes, takes place on April 30 at the historic Eastman Theatre.

    rochester music hall of fame joe beardInductees (in alphabetical order):

    Samuel Adler, celebrated classical composer and Eastman School of Music professor of composition from 1966 to 1995. With Adler in attendance, the Upton String Quartet with Yi-Yang Cheng on piano will perform his 1999 composition “Piano Quintet for Piano and String Quartet.”

    Joe Beard, revered blues guitarist and vocalist, who has played with the likes of Son House, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and John Lee Hooker. Joe Beard will perform at the ceremony, joined by his sons, Chris and Duane, and backed by house band Prime Time Funk.

    Gary Lewis, frontman of Gary Lewis and the Playboys, peforming since the 1960’s, topping charts and selling millions of records worldwide. Gary Lewis and the Playboys will be performing some of their best hits.

    Uncle Roger McCall, also known as “Uncle Rog,” the longest running DJ at a single station in the US (1973-2003) and hero to the local music scene, which he passionately promoted up until his murder during a robbery in 2003. Local musicians will peform a tribute to both Uncle Rog and Greg Sullivan.

    Greg Sullivan and The Penny Arcade, the legendary rock club was opened in 1973 by Sullivan, who booked national acts and mentored local musicians. Sullivan died of a heart attack in 2014, and the plaque in his honor hangs on the now-closed Penny Arcade.

    Lewis Soloff, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter for Blood, Sweat & Tears, and instructor at Juliard and Manhattan School of Music. Sorloff died of a heart attack in 2015. A tribute to Lew will be performed by David Clayton-Thomas, lead singer of Blood, Sweat, & Tears.

    Tickets for the ceremony on April 30 are now on sale at the Eastman Theatre box office or online.

  • SPAC 1995 is the Latest Live Phish Release

    The latest release from Live Phish features the band’s June 26, 1995 performance at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

    SPAC 1995 Phish

    This show would be the last time Phish performed at SPAC until June of 2004. The show highlights include a rare cover of “Don’t You Want to Go?,” an extended “Down with Disease” > “Free” (see video below), and a monster “You Enjoy Myself.”

    Setlist via Phish.net:

    Soundcheck: Time Loves A Hero > Dog Log/Time Loves A Hero mashup, Nellie Kane, Santana Instrumental, Rocky Mountain Way

    Set 1: My Friend, My Friend, Don’t You Want To Go?, Bathtub Gin, NICU > The Sloth, My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own, It’s Ice > Dog Faced Boy > Tela > Possum

    Set 2: Down with Disease [1] -> Free > Poor Heart > You Enjoy Myself , Strange Design > Run Like an Antelope

    Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top

    [1] Unfinished.
    My Friend started with a Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 tease from Trey. Trey teased and quoted Long Tall Glasses in Bathtub Gin. Possum contained a Heartbreaker tease and YEM contained Immigrant Song teases from Trey. Down with Disease was unfinished. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.

    Read our detailed breakdown of this 1995 live Phish performance at SPAC here.

  • NYC Busker Gives Earnings to Those in Need

    Come to find out, our generous busker not only resides in NYC, current street performer Will Boyajian, is a Clifton Park native, and son of notable Albany lawyer, Don Boyajian. Boyajian graduated from Shenendehowa High School in 2008. He studied music theater at Ithaca College, and has been living in NYC since 2012.

    As word of his story rapidly spreads, Boyajian stated to The Schenectady Gazette, that he hopes someone will step in and make it bigger, as he will be leaving NYC in March to act in the Capital Repertory Theater production of “They Built America: The Workers of the Erie Canal.” After that, Boyajian will take his acting skills, and head back to the cruise ship from April through December.

    Musicians from Los Angeles and Chicago have reached out to Boyajian, wanting to start their own #HopefulCases, but Boyajian wants to make sure that people are doing it for the right reasons, at that the campaigns name is never used for profit and personal gain.

    Original Article Follows:

    In Upstate NY, you can usually catch street performers playing their instruments, looking for a little extra cash near all the downtown hot spots in whatever city you reside. When you travel to a bigger city, like New York, one common place to see street performers looking for earnings, are in subway terminals. In a different twist, one specific street performer does it solely for humanitarian reasons, and now has the whole city talking.

    The New York Post reports that 26-year-old Will Boyajian, performs his bluegrass style of music to strap hangers walking by at the 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal subway station, and gives away his earnings throughout the day to those in need while trying to show New Yorkers a different way to give back and donate.

    Boyajian, who saved money for his cause by performing 8 months for Norwegian Cruise Line, earns around $400 daily in tips from passersby. Before he starts playing, the busker leans a sign against his case that reads, “If you’re homeless or need help, take as much as you need from the case.” His goal at the end of the day is to end with zero dollars in the case. If any cash is left, Boyajian will either hand out the left over singles, or purchase single ride MetroCards to pass out.

    There is no limit to what a person can take from the case as Boyajian trusts the persons taking from the case are truly in need. When talking about his experiment, which he calls Hopeful Cases, Boyajian stated to the New York Post:

    It’s really wild. Some people come up and take a dollar or take five dollars,  some people come up and take $80… It’s not my job to judge it’s just my job to give.

    Boyajian reflected about a moment that grabbed his heart Sunday when a man, with his dog, approached the case:

    I probably had $40 or $50 left, and my voice was trashed, and I wanted go home. ‘I said, just empty it out man…Treat yourself.’ And he said it’s enough for one of those hotels that let the dogs come, and he told the dog, ‘Moby, we’re going to be OK.’

    He also recounted about a time when he first moved to the city:

    When I first moved to the city… this dude got on the train… and was clearly homeless. The whole train moved away. None of us will ever experience that kind of rejection in our lives.

  • Sinkane Brings A Well-Traveled Musical Experience to Great Scott

    This past Thursday night, February 16, Great Scott welcomed the hip shaking, heart grooving, culturally wide-brimmed (wider than the brim of frontman Ahmed Gallab’s awesome cowboy cap) group known as Sinkane to an excited crowd.

    The Brooklyn based band was only on their second stop in their Life & Livin’ It tour. And after spending the past month in a rehearsal space in New York City, it was clear Sinkane was eager to show exactly what they had spent their time honing in on, which was nothing short of a very tight, impactful and all around free flowing and positive performance, often extending their songs into engaging jams.

    Sinkane1

    Immediately of interest was the shear size of the crowd. Last time Sinkane trekked their way up to the Bean Town (without the accompaniment of keyboardist and co-singer) they played to a mere ten people, one of which Ahmed Gallab impressively remembered and called out to from the stage in thanks of the support. This time however, the audience packed the venue and it’s a clear case in point of Sinkane’s success with the time acquired in-between. The band has really honed in on their sound, and with Life and Livin’ It, Sinkane is able to exhibit where they truly glow. It isn’t in one particular style in fact. Reggae, psychedelic, jam, funk, world—all of these peak their way into the uniqueness of what is Sinkane. Take their tracks “U’Huh” and “Favorite Song” for example, both off Life and Livin’ It. These take on so much influence from great songs and genres that the outcome is more along the lines of highly cultivated originality.

    Sinkane3

    With the help of one of the opener bands, No BS! Brass Band, for horns, Sinkane even furthered the immensity of their sound. The two groups had actually never performed together, as Gallab was excited to admit, and yet the result was an even fuller and more dynamic, refined sound. This might be something Sinkane wants to consider adapting to their live set next time around on tour, which if history repeats itself will likely be performed to an even bigger crowd.

    Sinkane closed with the audience favorite “How We Be,” and afterwards came back on stage for an encore that jammed into the wee early hours of 1:30am. This is a band that simply loves to play. And only the most respect goes to this group who’s shining attributes are giving every musical bone a rattle and shake and spreading some obvious cheer and positivity while doing it.

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  • Al Di Meola Bringing ‘Elegant Gypsy’ 40th Anniversary Tour to Paramount Hudson Valley Feb. 26

    Pioneer of jazz and Latin fusion guitar Al Di Meola is on the road celebrating the 40th anniversary of his second studio album Elegant Gypsy as well as his 2015 release Elysium. With a number of dates around the United States and Canada this past month, he concludes the tour this Sunday night at Paramount Hudson Valley in Peekskill.

    Since his first release in 1976, Di Meola has established himself as a prolific writer and virtuoso of the guitar, blending jazz, rock, and Latin music into his songwriting. With an extensive career over the past 40 years he has tallied over 20 albums to his name and collected many accolades and awards for his work. In his career he has also collaborated with several notable names including Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White as part of the super group Return to Forever when he was just 19 years old.

    Di Meola’s February tour is an extension of an extensive 2016 world tour for Elysium to help mark the 40th anniversary of Elegant Gypsy. Sunday’s show at Paramount Hudson Valley starts at 7pm with tickets still available here or by calling the box office at 914-739-0039. Special meet-and-greet packages are available by calling the box office which include access to the soundcheck and a pre-show  Q&A with Di Meola in the theater.

    Joining him on tour is Philippe Saisse (keyboards, marimba), Gumbi Ortiz (percussion), Elias Tona (bass), Luis Alicea (drums) and Evan Garr (violin).

  • The Bad Plus Deliver the Goods at the Egg

    The Swyer Theater at The Egg Center for the Performing Arts is a quaint and ideal setting for laid back musical performances. When The Bad Plus, a three-piece jazz band originally from Minneapolis but now out of New York City, visited the Swyer on Sunday, it was apparent from the start that the band really enjoys playing the room.

    It was a show of minimalism, as the only lights on in the theater were three dimly lit bulbs that focused on the band. The seating area was dark, and nary a sound was made from the crowd except gentle applause at the conclusion of each number. The Bad Plus are billed as an avant-garde jazz trio, but what they delivered on Sunday was far from the righteous, self-centered nature the genre often produces.

    Ethan Iverson handles piano duties, Reid Anderson plays the stand-up bass and Dave King provides the backbeat. Out of the gate King stepped forward and led the band on a funky acoustic exploration that saw a good deal of improvisation, especially from Iverson, who displayed a master ability to use a mix of space and fills to create a very unique mix.

    Throughout the night, Anderson would address the audience and give little anecdotes about what they’re playing. He spoke about how the group got their start by taking popular music, such as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” and tearing the songs down and arranging them in their jazzy style. I didn’t notice any such songs on Sunday, which added another layer of special to the very unique show. The Bad Plus have released 14 albums, almost entirely consisting of original compositions.

    Just before the encore, Iverson and Anderson linked up for a sort of rockabilly-swing groove that caught me off guard. If the audience hadn’t set the tone early on of high focus and quiet, I would have stood up and danced a little bit. The crowd showed its appreciation by giving a standing ovation that spanned the length between set close and encore start.

    I entered the show without any expectations for the band, but I walked out a new fan of The Bad Plus.

    Setlist: Hear You (Anderson), Self Serve (Iverson), Time After Time (Lauper), Thrift Store Jewelry (King), Inevitable Western (Iverson), Gold Prisms Inc. (King), Law Years (Coleman), The Robots (Kraftwerk), County Seat (Iverson), Seven Minute Mind (Anderson)
    Encore: I Walk the Line – (Cash)

  • Christopher Lloyd Takes the Audience Back in Time at Proctors

    Confession: I used to mow the lawn while listening to a cassette of the Back to the Future soundtrack. There’s all the great Huey Lewis and the News a pre-teen could ask for, plus that score that brought you right back to Hill Valley. I could step back (or ahead) in time with one of my favorite movies, and thanks to Marty (who had a Sports poster in his room), became a Huey Lewis fan overnight. So when Christopher Lloyd was announced to hold a viewing and conversation with an audience at Proctor’s Theater, naturally this was a can’t miss event for myself and nearly 2000 other Doc Brown fans.

    Christopher LloydBefore the Doc came out, we were treated to some film trivia and the full movie beforehand. Having seen the other two movies in the series nearly as many times as the original, revisiting the original, devoid of time-twisting and altering events from the sequels was like seeing the film for the first time. When the film ended and the curtain lifted, two chairs and a small table were on the stage, to which Christopher Lloyd was welcomed by the audience with a standing ovation. 

    He shared with the audience general thoughts on the film, as well as responded to audience submitted questions. He recounted that people who have met him over the years have told him that the movie was a life-changing event, shifting their careers towards science, engineering, physics and the like. But the movie may never have had the iconic Doc Brown without giving the script a second look while on film location in Mexico City. When he met with director Robert Zemeckis shortly thereafter, they discussed the role, who Doc was and what he would look like. Lloyd revealed that Doc’s look, particularly his hair, was derived from seeing an animated, white haired conductor at a performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.”‘

    With regard to the casting of Michael J. Fox, after 6 weeks of filming with Eric Stoltz as Marty, Lloyd recalled the recasting led to “chemistry that was automatic between us. He was perfect, and it worked out.” Among the three films, his favorite was the finale of the trilogy, partially due to his love of westerns and gaining a love interest in the film. He wishes that not only were true hover boards around today but also that big apparatus Doc is wearing on his head when he first meets Marty in 1955, as well as Mr. Fusion for the conservation aspect.

    Confession: I used to mow the lawn while listening to a cassette of the Back to the Future soundtrack. There's all the great Huey Lewis and the News a pre-teen could ask for, plus that score that brought you right back to Hill Valley. I could step back (or ahead) in time with one of my favorite movies, and thanks to Marty (who had a Sports poster in his room), became a Huey Lewis fan overnight. So when Christopher Lloyd was announced to hold a viewing and conversation with an audience at Proctor's Theater, naturally this was a can't miss event for myself and nearly 2000 other Doc Brown fans. Before the Doc came out, we were treated to some film trivia and the full movie beforehand. Having seen the other two movies in the series nearly as many times as the original, revisiting the original, devoid of time-twisting and altering events from the sequels was like seeing the film for the first time. When the film ended and the curtain lifted, two chairs and a small table were on the stage, to which Christopher Lloyd was welcomed by the audience with a standing ovation.  He shared with the audience general thoughts on the film, as well as responded to audience submitted questions. He recounted that people who have met him over the years have told him that the movie was a life-changing event, shifting their careers towards science, engineering, physics and the like. But the movie may never have had the iconic Doc Brown without giving the script a second look while on film location in Mexico City. When he met with director Robert Zemeckis shortly thereafter, they discussed the role, who Doc was and what he would look like. Lloyd revealed that Doc's look, particularly his hair, was derived from seeing an animated, white haired conductor at a performance of Gustav Holst's "The Planets."' With regard to the casting of Michael J. Fox, after 6 weeks of filming with Eric Stoltz as Marty, Lloyd recalled the recasting led to "chemistry that was automatic between us. He was perfect, and it worked out." Among the three films, his favorite was the finale of the trilogy, partially due to his love of westerns and gaining a love interest in the film. He wishes that not only were true hover boards around today but also that big apparatus Doc is wearing on his head when he first meets Marty in 1955, as well as Mr. Fusion for the conservation aspect. Stepping away from Back to the Future, Lloyd began to discuss other iconic roles, including one that he said he would love to play for the rest of his life, Uncle Fester, from The Addams Family, the comic of which he was a fan of at at early age, and spoke highly of co-star Raul Julia, remarking he was both 'intelligent and gracious.' On Taxi, he played Reverend Jim Ignatowski, initially a one-off appearance where he would marry Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) to a prostitute so that he would have a Green Card to remain in the country, but he ended up being a recurring character, and cited the 'Yellow Light' scene as one of his personal favorites. Kaufman, he said, "went to the beat of a different drummer" and could be irritating and odd on the set because that's who he was. He loved the 1998 biopic Man on the Moon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvmtbZzA40 A theater actor originally, Lloyd said it felt like home to him. He ended up in two or three musicals as well, including singing at 1976 Tony Awards. Theater led to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and eventually to Back to the Future, and the rest is movie history. Christopher Lloyd still sees Michael J. Fox and will meet up with him for a benefit soon for his foundation to promote Parkinson's Research. Speaking of his friend, "He is so brave, he has so much courage and he does not stop. He just keeps going." He used an example of the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Fox appeared as himself, and used his Parkinson's as an excuse to the ire of Larry David. "I admired him being able to do that scene." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI4lFjWoFqc Finally, when asked if he could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself. Given that he was recently married just before Christmas to a woman he had lived with for 12 years, and being married four times prior, he said "I wish I had more wisdom about who I hung out with prior." If only there was time to change the past...Stepping away from Back to the Future, Lloyd began to discuss other iconic roles, including one that he said he would love to play for the rest of his life, Uncle Fester, from The Addams Family, the comic of which he was a fan of at at early age, and spoke highly of co-star Raul Julia, remarking he was both ‘intelligent and gracious.’ On Taxi, he played Reverend Jim Ignatowski, initially a one-off appearance where he would marry Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) to a prostitute so that he would have a Green Card to remain in the country, but he ended up being a recurring character, and cited the ‘Yellow Light’ scene as one of his personal favorites. Kaufman, he said, “went to the beat of a different drummer” and could be irritating and odd on the set because that’s who he was. He loved the 1998 biopic Man on the Moon.

    A theater actor originally, Lloyd said it felt like home to him. He ended up in two or three musicals as well, including singing at 1976 Tony Awards. Theater led to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and eventually to Back to the Future, and the rest is movie history.

    Christopher Lloyd still sees Michael J. Fox and will meet up with him for a benefit soon for his foundation to promote Parkinson’s Research. Speaking of his friend, “He is so brave, he has so much courage and he does not stop. He just keeps going.” He used an example of the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Fox appeared as himself, and used his Parkinson’s as an excuse to the ire of Larry David. “I admired him being able to do that scene.”

    Finally, when asked if he could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself. Given that he was recently married just before Christmas to a woman he had lived with for 12 years, and being married four times prior, he said “I wish I had more wisdom about who I hung out with prior.” If only there was time to change the past…

  • Governor Cuomo Releases His Spotify Playlist

    This past week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released his personal Spotify playlist.

    A typical play by politicians who attempt to appear more as your everyday Joe and connect with the populace, this is an early indication that Governor Cuomo is positioning himself to run for President in 2020.

    Included on the playlist are a variety of born-in-New York artists – a fair amount of Billy Joel, some Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, the Ramones, Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Lou Reed, Pete Seeger and Wild Adriatic. The songs represent the state and popular, agreeable picks without being too controversial. You could call this ‘Dad rock’ but that would be insulting to Dad Rock. What’s missing are NY artists Talking Heads, Goo Goo Dolls, Rick James, 10,000 Maniacs, Cab Colloway. Listen to his selections here.