NYS Music 20​17

Tag: news

  • 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.

  • Geoff Tate Says Money Would Be Only Reason for a Queensryche Reunion

    In a recent Blabbermouth report, former Queensryche frontman, Geoff Tate, discussed with the “Noize In The Attic” radio show, whether he thinks a reconciliation could happen in the future, and reunite with original Queensryche lineup someday down the road.

    Tate’s response when asked if a possible Queensryche reunion possibly happening:

    I suppose so. I suppose that if everybody got in a room…The only reason to get together is for the money. That’s the only reason. So, if everybody really needed money and wanted to get together and bury the hatchet, so to speak, and sit in one room and say [mocking tears] ‘Gosh, I’m really sorry I treated you that way.’ You know, maybe then we could work toward some sort of resolution, but I haven’t seen any attempt by anybody to do that. So I’m holding out…holding my breath. [But] I’d never say never. I might get to a point where I really need the money. It’s nice to have that little back-up plan.

    In a past interview with The Metal Gods Meltdown, Tate described his time with the band as a business more than a brother hood. He stated:

    We weren’t really friends, you know – we were business associates. We had a wonderful entity that we shared called Queensryche, but it wasn’t an equal sort of partnership as far as involvement goes. You know, so there wasn’t a real camaraderie amongst everybody in the band… From my perspective and my involvement, it wasn’t an emotional sort of brotherhood kind of thing that some people might think existed. That wasn’t my reality with them.

    Tate tried suing the band over the rights to the Queensryche name in 2012. A settlement was reached between both parties in 2014, giving original band members Michael Wilton (guitar), Scott Rockenfield (drums), and Eddie Jackson (bass), the rights to the Queensryche name, while giving Tate the rights to perform live, the albums, “Operation Mindcrime,” and Operation Mindcrime II.”

  • Landmark Albany Theater Building Up For Auction

    All Over Albany has reported that the 101-year-old EBA, short for Electric Body Arts, a landmark theater building, located on the corner of Lark and Hudson in Albany, is up for sale by online auctioneers Collar City Auctions.

    EBA founder Maude Baum, purchased the building in 1977, from the Daughters of the Eastern Star, and has been running dance classes out of the building ever since, making it one of the staples of the community. Although this era is coming to a close, Baum states that the company will continue.

    Baum talked about the current situation:

    There are lots of places to hold classes, there are lots of places to perform, there are lots of places to rehearse. I’m OK with it. I’m sort of at the point where it’s time for a change.

    The building was up for auction a while back, but developers only wanted the land, not the building. They discovered that their original plans of demolishing the building, wouldn’t be cost effective according to Baum. She stated:

    It’s built like a Mack truck. The beams are 15-inch metal studs so it’s structurally sound. It’s in excellent shape. We just finished shingling, there’s a new boiler, and a new tin ceiling in the theater.

    Before considering the online auction route, the company was turned down for a state Main Street grant, hoping to add apartments and offices to the building.

    EBA is still holding regular scheduled rehearsals, performances and classes until the bidding closes on March 2, with an assessed value of $518,400, according to city tax records. After that, Baum and her board of directors are up for any ideas, opportunities, and possibilities.

    Baum on the future of the building:

    Who knows, maybe someone will buy the building and want to lease the space back to us, or share it with us somehow. Anything could happen.

    Everything that has happened here is still in my heart — All the artwork and performances — They’re still inside of me. What’s the difference if you look at a photo here or you look at it someplace else.

  • Melissa Etheridge Bringing True Self to Troy

    Academy Award and Grammy winning musician Melissa Etheridge is bringing everything she’s got to the Troy with the Hodges Brothers this April.

    On April 23. at 7:30 PM, Etheridge will be performing at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy on her M.E. tour. With two Grammys and an Academy Award win behind her, Etheridge has continued for over two decades to be one of America’s beloved female singer-songwriters.

    Known for hit singles such as, “I’m the Only One”, “Ain’t It Heavy” and “I Want To Come Over,” Etheridge is bringing her signature smoky, raspy vocals to Troy alongside new content for her tour.

    On Oct. 7, Etheridge released, Memphis Rock & Soul, her first album since 2014’s critically acclaimed, This Is M.E. Receiving praise from renowned publications such as Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly, Etheridge will be sharing some of her newer works across the country for her M.E. tour.

    Etheridge is also known for inspiring people beyond her music. Beating her battle with breast cancer, Etheridge appeared at the 2005 Grammys to perform Janis Joplin’s, “Piece of My Heart,” bald from her chemotherapy. Doing so, Etheridge inspired women across the world with her powerful message.

    Tickets go on-sale for the M.E. tour this Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 AM.

  • Bret Michaels Talks Future of Poison

    Ready to embark on a summer tour with Def Leppard and Tesla, Blabbermouth reports that during a recent interview on Sirius/XM’s “Trunk Nation,” hosted by Eddie Trunk, Poison frontman Bret Michaels, talked about his upcoming reunion with all the original members of Poison, and the future of Poison.

    Trunk asked Michaels why he felt it was the right time to re-connect with the original members of Poison for the upcoming summer tour:

    It’s two things. One, it will be awesome – honestly – it will be awesome to see Bobby [Dall, bass] and C.C. [DeVille, guitar] and Rikki [Rockett, drums] again. We always have fun. I know there’s notorious stories of… You know, the great thing about us, if we have any problems, we don’t bother to air it out backstage, we just wait until we’re onstage to beat the hell out of each other. So I’ve always laughed and told you, it’s great music, there’s always a great energy, and occasionally you get a lot of pyro and a good prizefight once in a while. But, honestly, to me, we’re mixing up with the solo dates and with Poison/Def Leppard… We had such a great time out with Def Leppard last time, and obviously with Tesla out there, it’s just a great early summer… I call it early summer, but it’s starting off… kicks off first week of April, I believe in New Hampshire, and I’m really looking forward to it — playing all the greatest hits and just being out there and having fun.

    Michaels was asked if he has had any contact with any of the band members since their last stint. Michaels replied:

    We go and do some of the private [gigs as Poison], and it’s really great. And every time we do it, we get together [and] we rehearse, everyone’s having fun, it’s great to catch up, but not on a daily… You know, I don’t see them on a daily basis. It’s like I said, we’re four guys that if you asked us for direction to any place, we would give you four completely different directions to get to the same location. It’s just our personalities. But also that energy – the fact that none of us are ‘yes’ men to the other person, we all have our own individual identity, but when we get out there on that stage and it’s working, there’s a certain energy in the air and a certain party and feeling that everyone’s on their feet, hands in the air. And it’s truly a great time. And probably of all of ’em, Bobby’s the one I’m in the most contact with. You know, we’re all friends, but Bobby’s probably the one I speak to the most about… not just about Poison; just about life in general.

    Michaels on the future of Poison after the tour:

    We would all have to go do this and have a great time together and say, ‘Look, next year I think we’re gonna go out, just headline, pick out twenty or thirty dates, and go play.’ But I think we have to go through this… I think you just simply go through this. This isn’t gonna be one of those scenes where — God forbid — we’re ever inducted into the [Rock And Roll] Hall Of Fame, and no one will show up or this; there’s none of that. It is truly as real as it gets. Those moments that we’re having a great time are real, and when it goes ugly, it’s real; it’s not a pre-thought-out thing. And I think we just go through this, have the best time in April, May and June. We’ve added more dates through Canada and a bunch of stuff, and just see where it goes. I would literally, when it’s done, say, ‘Hey, guys, I think it would be killer next year to go out, pick out some great headlining dates and have an amazing time again.

    If fans could expect a possible new Poison album:

    Very simple. You know with me that I still live and breathe for the creativity and making new music. A lot of the reason, for me, to be able to go out with Pete Evick and all the guys in the solo band… We get on that bus and we truly get up there, and even before and after shows, we’re up there at soundcheck writing new music, playing new music. And, of course, one day it would be awesome. I don’t look at the business of it. It would be great if we could sit down as Poison and say, ‘Look, let’s just make a really fun, upbeat new ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’ or ‘Talk Dirty To Me’…’ I’m not saying the same song, but something that just feels like what we do, obviously with modern production, and have a great time making a new song. But in the meantime, I’m gonna keep creating with what I do, with the solo band.

  • Def Leppard and Poison To Hit The Road Together Again This Spring

    Def Leppard and Poison will reunite and hit the road together for the third time in in less than 10 years, with an extensive spring tour across North America that will hit 38 different cities across the United States and Canada. The two bands last toured together on the Rock Of Ages tour in 2012 that also featured Lita Ford.

    Kicking off on April 4, at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH, the tour will also feature Tesla in the opening slot for most of the shows. The tour is set to close on June 25 at the Klipsch Music Center in Indianapolis, IN.

    Cites in New York, and surrounding areas, that were missed during the 2016 tour will benefit from this go-around. The tour will make stops at the Bell Centre in Montreal on April 10, the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on April 12, and at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY on April 15. Tickets go on sale on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21  through Live Nation.

    Blabbermouth reports, when talking about the upcoming tour, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot stated:

    We’re thrilled to be able to take this tour to cities we didn’t play in 2016. The demand for us to return, or rather extend the tour was phenomenal! There’s a great buzz around the band right now and we’re loving the fact that we can do this with the latest album being so well received.

    Poison frontman Bret Michaels added:

    I could not be more excited. I know all of us will give one thousand percent on stage and we are looking forward to performing our hits together. I personally could not be more thankful for the three generations of fans and I love the music of Def Leppard and Tesla. This will be an amazing night of rock and roll. Don’t wait because god only knows.

    Def Leppard, who toured over 70 cities in 2016, will also headline some of the major rock festivals this summer including Fort Rock, Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, and River City Rockfest.

    This will also mark the first time in over five years that all the original members of Poison:  Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett, will take the stage together and perform. Rockett, who was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2015, is now cancer free.

    Def Leppard, Poison & Tesla Tour:

    April 8 – SNHU Arena – Manchester, NH
    April 10 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC *
    April 12 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
    April 14  – Royal Farms Arena – Baltimore, MD
    April 15  – Nassau Coliseum – Uniondale, NY
    April 17 – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
    April 19 – Resch Center – Green Bay, WI
    April 21 – Xcel Energy Center – St Paul, MN
    April 22 – Sanford Premier Center – Sioux Falls, SD
    April 24 – Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, IA
    April 26 – KFC Yum! Center  –  Louisville, KY **
    April 27 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
    April 29 – Fort Rock  – Ft Myers, FL ***
    April 30 – Welcome to Rockville – Jacksonville, FL ***
    May 2 – Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre – Tuscaloosa, AL
    May 3 – Lakewood Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA
    May 5 – John Paul Jones Arena – Charlottesville, VA
    May 6 – Carolina Rebellion  – Charlotte, NC ***
    May 24 – Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NE
    May 26 – Rocklahoma  – Pryor, OK ***
    May 27 – River City Rockfest – San Antonio, TX ***
    May 29 – Broadmoor World Arena – Colorado Springs, CO
    May 31 – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse – Bozeman, MT
    June 2 – Rogers Place – Edmonton, AB *
    June 3 – Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, AB *
    June 6 – Rogers Arena Vancouver, BC *
    June 7 – Spokane Arena – Spokane, WA
    June 9 – White River Amphitheatre – Seattle, WA
    June 10 – Moda Center – Portland, OR
    June 12 – Save Mart Center – Fresno, CA
    June 14 – Citizens Bank Arena – Ontario, CA
    June 16 – Sleep Train Amphitheatre – San Diego, CA
    June 17 – MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, NV
    June 19 – ASANA Amphitheatre – Salt Lake City, UT
    June 21 – Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO **
    June 22 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – St Louis, MO
    June 24 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – Chicago, IL
    June 25 – Klipsch Music Center – Indianapolis, IN

    Tour Key:

    Def Leppard solo date *
    Def Leppard & Poison date only**
    Def Leppard festival appearances ***