NYS Music 20​17

Tag: Music News

  • Fozzy to Invade Upstate Concert Hall

    After a small break from touring, Fozzy will pack the road gear and continue the band’s “Judas Rising,” tour into 2018 at Upstate Concert Hall. Fozzy is touring in support of the band’s seventh studio album, Judas. The title track of the album, “Judas,” has become a huge hit for the band, blowing up rock radio stations everywhere.

    Part two of the “Judas Rising” tour will see support by Through Fire, Santa Cruz, and Dark Star Choir.

    New Orleans will get the tour started at the Parish on Feb. 28 and see the “Lights Go Out” on April 8 at Wally’s in Hampton Beach, NH. One of the two New York dates on the tour will come through the Capital Region. Fozzy will make a stop at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on April 4, then the next night on April 5 at the the Gramercy Theatre in NYC. Tickets to the UCH show cost $17 in advance. Fozzy die-hards can also purchase a $150 VIP upgrade to each show on the tour.

    In a recent Blabbermouth article, frontman Chris Jericho, and guitarist Rich Ward gave their opinions on the upcoming “Judas Rising,” tour.

    Jericho stated: “I’m stoked to do this extensive tour of the States now that ‘Judas,’ the song, is a Top 5 rock radio hit and ‘Judas’, the album, has gone top 40! FOZZY is bigger than we’ve ever been, which means bigger production, bigger songs and bigger lighted jackets! So we can’t wait to rock your literal socks off starting in February!! JUDAS IS RISING.”

    Rich Ward added: “I started playing guitar because of how deeply powerful the experience of going to concerts was for me. With a hit single and a new album pushing FOZZY to new heights, I can’t wait to get back on the road in America to capture the power that only live music can create. Make sure to bring a helmet and your dancing shoes when FOZZY rolls through your town.”

    Fozzy “Judas Rising” Tour Dates:

    Feb. 28 – The Parish – New Orleans, LA
    March 1 – Scout Bar – Houston, TX
    March 2 – Canton Hall – Dallas, TX
    March 3 – Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
    March 4 – Speaking Rock – El Paso, TX
    March 7 – Club X’s – Tucson, AZ
    March 8 – Marquee Theater – Phoenix, AZ
    March 10 – The Whisky – Los Angeles, CA
    March 11 – Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV
    March 13 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
    March 15 – Dante’s – Portland, OR
    March 16 – Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
    March 27 – Turner Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
    March 28 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
    March 29 – Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
    March 30 – Shelter – Detroit, MI
    March 31 – Oddbody’s – Dayton, OH
    April 2 – House Of Blues – Cleveland, OH
    April 3 – Jergel’s – Pittsburgh, PA
    April 4 – Upstate Concert Hall – Clifton Park, NY
    April 5 – The Gramercy – New York, NY
    April 6 – The Foundry – Philadelphia, PA
    April 7 – Aura – Portland, ME
    April 8 – Wally’s – Hampton Beach, NH

  • Brandi Carlile Announces 2018 New York Tour Dates

    Brandi Carlile fans are some of the luckiest fans in the world. They can see Carlile just about any time they’d like to because she always seems to be on tour. She’s performed at least once a month, almost every single month since 2014 and will continue this streak well on into 2018, making several stops in New York along the way. These shows include a three-night run at the Beacon Theatre on April 5, 6 (Sold Out) and 7, the Palace Theatre in Albany on May 6 and the State Theatre in Ithaca on May 8. Tickets for all of these shows are available now and are modestly priced. Again, the April 6 show and the Beacon Theatre is sold out.

    Brandy Carlile Tour

    Carlile will be touring with her five-album discography and will likely showcase some new material from her soon to be released collection, By the Way, I Forgive You. Listeners can get a taste of the new album by checking out the single, “The Joke.” It’s sentimental and a bit melancholy, which isn’t unheard of for Carlile. But taking into account this track’s tone coupled with some emotional album artwork, it raises the question, what will the rest of the album sound like? That question will be answered on February 16, 2018.

    Anyone unfamiliar with Carlile’s work should give her the old college try. Her music is wholesome, moving, catchy and beaming with energy. On top of her extensive musical career, she and her bandmates, Tim and Phil Hanseroth also found the time and energy to create a nonprofit called the Looking Out Foundation. They, “band together with fans, nonprofits, and corporations to translate voices of song to voices of action,” as well as donating $1 from every concert to their efforts and related charities.

    Tour Dates:

    April 5 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY
    April 6 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY (SOLD OUT)
    April 7 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY
    May 6 – Palace Theatre – Albany, NY
    May 8 – State Theatre – Ithaca, NY

  • Floodwood Celebrates Release of Third Album With Two Shows at Kirkland Art Center

    Progressive string band, Floodwood, will celebrate the release of its third album at Central New York’s Kirkland Art Center with a pair of shows. The two day celebration, to be held Friday and Saturday Dec. 8 and 9 will feature four sets from the headliners along with guest appearances from Nigel Felony on Friday and the Old Main on Saturday. Tickets are $25 each night or $40 for both nights. Members of the Kirkland Art Center can purchase tickets for $23 each night or $36 for both nights. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

    floodwood showsFloodwood is Jason Barady and Nick Piccininni of Woodenspoon, Vinnie Amico of moe., Tony Markellis of the Trey Anastasio Band and Chris Eves of Chris Eves and the New Normal, Castle Creek and Skunk City. Combined, they bring a menagerie of influences to their unique brand of bluegrass.

    The band’s third album (second studio album),‘Til I Die was released on Dec. 1. It was recorded over the past year at RDRAUDIO Studios in Amsterdam and was produced and mixed by the band’s engineer Mark Cochi with additional recording by Casey Latter. The new album is available digitally on Amazon, CD Baby, iTunes and Bandcamp and physical copies will be available at all shows.

    floodwood showsFloodwood’s lineage reads like a history of Upstate New York music. From their bio:

    Vinnie Amico has been playing drums professionally for nearly 30 years, 20 with jamband mainstays moe. Vinnie has been with Floodwood since it’s inception 5 years ago. Vinnie is influenced by many musical styles including rock, jazz, bluegrass, reggae, country, and world music. Those influences shine bright in Floodwood…

    Tony Markellis is a bassist and record producer from Helena, Montana, now residing in Saratoga Springs, NY. His career spans over forty years, playing blues, folk, jazz, rock and country music with musicians such as Trey Anastasio, Paul Butterfield, The Mamas & the Papas, Johnny Shines, David Bromberg and many, many more. Markellis was a founding member of the groundbreaking Vermont-based jazz fusion group Kilimanjaro, as well as the Unknown Blues Band featuring Big Joe Burrell.

    Jason Barady spent over 10 years recording & touring with the Bluegrass group Wooden Spoon from Taos, until returning to his hometown in central, NY. An influential part of his local music scene, Jason plays with an unyielding energy and creativity on both local and national stages. Fans have been known to refer to him as “the Hendrix of Mandolin”. 

    Nick Piccininni is a self taught banjoist/fiddler who learned his bluegrass chops the old fashioned way – in picking circles at his favorite bluegrass festivals. He has been involved in many projects including touring for two years with CMA recording artists, The Abrams Brothers. Nick arguably smiles the most of anyone in the band.

    Chris Eves, from the band Castle Creek, is an accomplished guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He has shared the stage with The Zac Brown Band, Jon Fishman of Phish, Johnny Lang, John Popper and many others. He also played guitar for American Idol and is featured in the film Star Trek Nemesis.

    The Kirkland Art Center is a regional multi-arts center located in an old church in the heart of historic Clinton, New York facing the Village Green. The center has been integral in maintaining cultural endeavors in Central New York for over 50 years.

    Floodwood always puts on an engaging show, filled with humor and brotherly competition. Check out some fan shot video of Floodwood’s newest member, Eves, kickin’ it at Funk ‘n Waffles in Syracuse last year below.

  • Aqueous Announces Gorillaz NYE Theme

    Buffalo groove rockers Aqueous will be making their Town Ballroom headlining debut this New Year’s Eve.  In anticipation of the evening, the Buffalo based quartet has announced that in addition to their own catalog, they will be dedicating a set of music to the English virtual band, Gorillaz.

    aqueous gorillaz“AQ draws from many different bands’ catalogs for inspiration, and the Gorillaz catalog is one that all four of us are HUGE fans of,” noted Aqueous frontman and guitarist Mike Ganzter via press release.  “Their catalog integrates four styles of music that we all love: hip-hop, rock, punk and electronic, and once the idea got thrown out there to do a Gorillaz themed set, it was clear that that was the vibe we wanted to really set our NYE party over the top!”

    This past March, Aqueous made their performance debut at the Town Ballroom opening in support of Vermont’s genre fusing jam band, Twiddle.  As AQ steps into the headlining position to close out 2017, Ganzter reveals the evening’s importance to the band. “This city has so much love for us and has supported us on a really profound level at every turn,” he said. “We’re coming into this gig with true gratitude and a mission to deliver in a big way at a venue that we all grew up seeing our favorite bands perform at.”

    Buffalo post-rock art band Lazlo Hollyfeld has been added in support.

    On Thanksgiving eve, Ganzter stopped by the Lazlo Hollyfeld annual Thanksgiving Eve show for an unannounced sit-in.  Besides their own unique brand of musical stylings, Lazlo Hollyfeld is also known for their perfected tribute sets, including performances of the Talking Heads, Radiohead and most recently, Arcade Fire.

    Aqueous is currently finishing up a nearly three month tour of the greater United States before retuning home to celebrate the New Year with their hometown fans. AQ will kick off 2018 with performances on Jam Cruise as well as tour in support of Papadosio for recently announced dates in February and March.

    Tickets for Aqueous’ NYE Gorillaz bash at Hometown Ballroom are $20 in advance and are still.

    Aqueous Upcoming Tour Dates

    Dec. 6 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge
    Dec. 8 – Fort Collins, CO – Hodi’s Half Note
    Dec. 9 – Frisco, CO – The Barkley Ballroom
    Dec. 12 – Davenport, IA – Redstone Room
    Dec. 13 – St. Louis, MO – The Bootleg at Atomic Cowboy
    Dec. 14 – Lexington, KY – Cosmic Charlie’s
    Dec. 15 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
    Dec. 16 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Rex Theater
    Dec. 29 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium *
    Dec. 31 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
    Jan. 17 – 22 – Miami, FL – Jam Cruise

    * w/ Umphrey’s McGee

  • Breaking: Dead & Co. Scraps Tonight’s New Orleans Show; Mayer Hospitalized

    Dead & Company’s scheduled show tonight at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans has been postponed due to John Mayer being hospitalized.

    Mayer Hospitalized

    Mayer was hospitalized early Tuesday for an emergency appendectomy. No make up date was given for the show but tickets for tonight’s show will be honored at the rescheduled date. Refunds will be offered at point of purchase.

    Dead & Company are in the tail end of their fall tour with stops in Orlando and Sunrise, FL scheduled later this week. Those shows are still on schedule as of press time.

  • moe.’s Rob Derhak Cancer Free

    Rob Derhak, bassist and vocalist from moe., announced on Facebook through both his personal page and the band’s page that he is officially cancer free. He was originally diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in July.

    It has been about two weeks since moe. announced their return with two shows at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre on Feb. 2 and 3. On Wednesday, Derhak announced that, following a visit with his doctor, he was given a clean bill of health and declared cancer free. The cancer diagnosis in July had the band on an indefinite hiatus that began back in August.

    Derhak’s statement:

    Hi Friends,
    I have some good news to post today. After being scanned, poked, and prodded my Dr.’s have given me a green light. Did I kick cancers ass? No, it beat me up pretty good. But I just didn’t have the sense to go down, and eventually the cancer grew tired and hit the mat. So essentially, I rope-a-doped the dam thing. Although I’ll need to continue the Dr.’s visits for the next 5 years, they’ve given me a clean bill of health and declared me cancer free, with only a minimal chance that it will return. So thank you to everyone that was pulling for me, the support I received was instrumental in helping me get through this. I am truly looking forward to seeing everyone when I hit the stage again this February, with moe.
    Thanks from Your Pal,
    Rob

    In addition to the shows at the Capitol Theatre, moe. will return to host their Summer Camp Music Festival along with Umphrey’s McGee over Memorial Day weekend and they will be playing a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on July 12.

  • 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.

  • Rock on the Range 2018 Lineup Announced

    Rangers, the lineup is here. The 12th annual Rock on the Range has announced all of the artist that will appear at the three day festival starting May 18-20, 2018 in Columbus, OH, at MAPFRE Stadium.

    Nearly 60 bands will perform over three days headled by Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, and Alice In Chains. Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenen will not only appear with Tool, his other band, A Perfect Circle, will also appear sometime during the festival.

    Daily lineups are yet to be announced but other artists scheduled to appear among the three stages the include Godsmack, Stone Sour, Breaking Benjamin,Three Days Grace, Stone Temple Pilots, Bullet For My Valentine, Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, I Prevail, Greta Van Fleet, Trivium, 10 Years, From Ashes To New, Like A Storm, Shaman’s Harvest, and Stitched Up Heart to name a few.

    In a recent Blabbermouth article, Avenged Sevenfold frontman, M. Shadows, commented on headlining ROTR. He stated:

    Rock On The Range is the undisputed champion of American rock festivals. The team over there has done an incredible job of curating a potent mix of all the types of rock ‘n roll that any fan could ask for. It’s an honor to play at the top of the bill, and we cannot wait to see everyone in May.

    Several ticket packages have already sold out, with several options to choose from still available, but  they won’t last for long as ROTR seems to sell out quicker each year. Weekend passes include Field VIP – $349 plus fees, Field General Admission – $299.50 plus fees, and Stadium General Admission – $149.50.

    Uber Ranger camping packages are available while supplies last along with bronze, silver, gold, and diamond hotel packages. For more information, visit the festival website here.

  • Brian Johnson Says Goodbye to Friend, Bandmate, Malcolm Young

    As our favorite legendary artists grow older, its only inevitable, that one day we will hear the sad news that one has passed away. Sadly, AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young will join several other legendary artists at the “Music Festival in Heaven.”

    Longtime bandmate, friend, and AC/DC frontman, Brian Johnson, posted a statement on his website about the passing of Young titled, “For 32 years, we stood side by side on stage.” His letter stated:

    I am saddened by the passing of my friend Malcolm Young, I can’t believe he’s gone.
    We had such great times on the road.
    I was always aware that he was a genius on guitar, his riffs have become legend, as has he.
    I send out my love and sympathy to his wife Linda, his children Cara and Ross,
    and Angus, who will all be devastated…. as we all are.
    He has left a legacy that I don’t think many can match.
    He never liked the celebrity side of fame, he was too humble for that.
    He was the man who created AC/DC because he said “there was no Rock,n,Roll” out there.
    I am proud to have known him and call him a friend, and I’m going to miss him so much.
    I salute you, Malcolm Young.
    – Brain Johnson, November 2017

    Malcolm Young passed away on Nov. 18 at the age of 64, after suffering from dementia for the past few years. He formed AC/DC with his brother Angus in 1973. Besides playing guitar, Malcolm was a producer and songwriter, who help create some of the biggest rock and roll anthems in history, such as “Hells Bells,” “Back In Black,” “Highway To Hell,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” to name a few. He retired from the band in Sept. 2014, after being diagnosed with dementia in April 2014. Young and his AC/DC bandmates have sold over 110 million albums, are were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

    Rolling Stone posted several comments from various artist, once the news of Malcolm’s death started to circulate throughout the music industry including Eddie Van Halen, Nancy Wilson and Slash. You can read those comments below:

    Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band): “Malcolm was the essential rhythm guitarist of the world’s greatest working class hard rock band. An irreplaceable loss.”

    Slash (Guns N’ Roses): “Malcolm Young was one of the best ever rhythm guitarists in rock and roll. He was a fantastic songwriter and he had a great work ethic too. I toured with AC/DC on their ‘Stiff Upper Lip’ tour. I found Malcolm to be a really cool, down to earth fellow. The entire rock and roll community is heartbroken by his passing.”

    Nancy Wilson (Heart) “Malcom Young was the embodiment of rock itself. His rhythm guitar style needed no embellishment. He laid down the simple solid guitar truth that taught us all about the ‘less is more ethic.’ The wild power of simplicity and the head banging hair flipping joys of turning it up really loud and dancing with the vibrations. Thank you, Malcom for being the real deal. We are all going to miss that shredding music that only you and your brother could make together.”

    Eddie Van Halen: “It is a sad day in rock and roll. Malcolm Young was my friend and the heart and soul of AC/DC. I had some of the best times of my life with him on our 1984 European tour. He will be missed and my deepest condolences to his family, bandmates and friends.”

    Dave Mustaine: “I have to go…I am losing it that Malcolm is gone. I hate this…” Kiss’ Paul Stanley added, “The driving engine of AC/DC has died. A tragic end for a sometimes unsung icon. One of the true greats. RIP.” Tom Morello praised Young as “#1 greatest rhythm guitarist in the entire history of rock n roll.”

    https://youtu.be/evqsl8smnYE

  • Proctors Announces Capital Records Live

    Capital Records Live, to be held on March 23 at the GE Theatre at Proctors, is a new model for local music entertainment. Presented in association with WAIX, “Albany’s Independent Experience,” the series’ debut performance will feature six of the region’s most popular bands playing classic songs of The Beatles.

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    The first act in the inaugural show will find the Bryan Brundige Collective, Clear Mind, Eastbound Jesus, Girl Blue, Let’s Be Leonard and Wild Adriatic offering self-chosen selections from 1968’s The Beatles, better known as The White Album.

    The second act will challenge the same groups, with Proctors and WAIX 106.1 determining which songs the band will perform, all from 1967’s groundbreaking, multiple Grammy Award-winning album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

    Whether you’re a fan of local artists, wanting to support local music or a Beatles buff who can’t miss these iconic albums performed in a whole new way, Capital Records Live will be the place to be.

    Capital Records Live is a planned annual concert featuring a variety of local and regional artists performing a classic album live in concert. Its mission is to promote the local music scene by introducing artists to new audiences, fostering new musical relationships and offering a performance opportunity in a world class environment. Audiences, in turn, are treated to a local “All Star” night of music featuring timeless favorites.

    Tickets for Capital Records Live, $25, are available at the Box Office at Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady; by phone at (518) 346-6204; and online at proctors.org.

    This article, originally published by The Spot 518, is property of Spotlight Newspapers in Albany, N.Y, and appears as a special to NYS Music. TheSpot518 and NYS Music work in partnership to provide readers with in-depth coverage of the local music scene in the Capital District and New York State, respectively. For more, visit TheSpot518.com.