NYS Music 20​18

Author: Chad Vergine

  • Imagine Dragons ‘Evolve’ World Tour Features Grace Vanderwaal

    Las Vegas rockers Imagine Dragons dropped the “Thunder” with their summer touring plans for 2018. The band will continue to support their third studio album Evolve, with a 38-city tour across the United States.

    imagine dragons evolveLook for more dates to be possibly added, as there is a huge gap in between the last two announced dates. Season eleven winner of America’s Got Talent, and Suffern, NY native Grace Vanderwaal, was announced as special guest to help support and open shows during the tour.

    The band looks to make New York a “Believer,” with three stops spread across the state. Those stops will include June 11, at the Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse, June 19, at Madison Square Garden in NYC, and  June 29, at SPAC, in Saratoga Springs. Tickets go on sale to the general public March 3.

    Imagine Dragons have sold over 12 million albums, and over 35 million singles worldwide, not including sales of Evolve. Their debut album Night Visions, earned them a twice platinum certification and a Billboard Music Award for “Top Rock Album,” in 2014. Their second studio album Smoke + Mirrors, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and is certified platinum.

    Imagine Dragons “Evolve” Tour Dates:

    June 5 – Xfinity Theatre – Hartford, CT
    June 6 – Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA
    June 8 – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion – Bangor, ME
    June 9 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
    June 11 – Lakeview Amphitheater – Syracuse, NY
    June 13 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, CA
    June 16 – HersheyPark Stadium – Hershey, PA
    June 17 – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
    June 19 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
    June 21 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Detroit, MI
    June 22 – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center – Indianapolis, IN
    June 24 – CenturyLink Center – Omaha, NE
    June 26 – Denny Sanford Premier Center – Sioux Falls, SD
    June 27 – Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI
    June 29 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
    July 2 – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA
    July 3 – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA
    July 5 – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC
    July 7 – Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, SC
    July 8 – Brandon Amphitheater – Brandon, MS
    July 10 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
    July 11 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Maryland Heights, MO
    July 13 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL
    July 14 – Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO
    July 16 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
    July 18 – Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
    July 21 – The Forum – Los Angeles, CA
    July 24 – Concord Pavilion – Concord, MA
    July 26 – Bobcat Stadium – Bozeman, MT
    July 30 – Intrust Bank Arena – Wichita, KS
    Aug. 1 – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
    Aug. 2 – Austin360 Amphitheater – Austin, TX
    Aug. 4 – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – The Woodlands, TX
    Aug. 5 – Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA
    Aug. 7 – The Amphitheater at the Wharf – Orange Beach, AL
    Aug. 9 – Coral Sky Amphitheater – West Palm Beach, FL
    Aug. 10 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
    Oct. 20 – FC Dallas Stadium – Frisco, TX**

    **Grace Vanderwaal not performing

  • Is the Compact Disc Era Coming to an End?

    Could this be the final nail in the coffin for the compact disc? It just may be in retail stores. With digital media sales surging, the CD format is holding steady but still saw an 18.5 percent decline in sales in 2017. This is forcing retailers such as Target and Best Buy to pull compact discs off their store shelves.

    compact disc

    At one point, Best Buy was the most powerful music merchandiser in the U.S. It now dedicates very minimal space in its physical stores to CDs. Although it may seem like a nice chunk of change, Best Buy’s annual CD sales are around $40 million and the chain has informed music suppliers that they plan to pull CDs from its stores starting July 1. Best Buy will honor their commitment to vendors and carry vinyl records over the next two years, relocating them to the turntable section of the store.

    According to Billboard, Target has demanded that music suppliers sell CDs on a consignment basis. Target’s current agreement with labels is that Target pays for all goods shipped within 60 days, taking a huge inventory risk. Target than has to pay to ship back unsold CDs for a credit. Target wants the labels to take all the risk with a consignment agreement. Billboard sources also state tha,t in the fourth quarter of 2017, Target gave both music and video suppliers an ultimatum that they want to switch to a scanned-based trading system. That means Target will on pay for goods as they are bought at the register. The original date set for the scan-based system was Feb. 1, but has been pushed back to either April or May 1. Like Best Buy, Target has reduced it’s CD inventory drastically over the years, now carrying around only 100 titles per store.

    This is putting music manufacturers in a tight spot. Sources indicate that one major player has said no, while two others are undecided. Music manufacturers say they are waiting to see what happens with DVDs. If manufacturers don’t agree to these new terms, could it be the end of the compact disc era?

    https://youtu.be/ut_40U0t9pU?t=1m30s

  • Metallica Worldwired Tour to Stop in Buffalo and Albany

    New York fans have been buzzing the last couple of days after the mighty Metallica posted a video on social media that said “Monday, Worldwired Tour,” The brief video left fans hoping their city will be part of the the band’s 2018-2019 touring plans.

    Rumors started circulating once venues across North America started sharing Metallica’s post hours later. Two of 34 venues that shared Metallica’s video, were located in New York state. One of those venues on the list, had Capital Region metal fans saying “Could this be for real,” when the Times Union Center in Albany shared the band’s post.

    Now that Monday has arrived, everything has been made official. Metallica will make two stops in New York on their upcoming “Worldwired 2018/19” tour, including Oct. 27, at the Key Bank Center in Buffalo, and Oct. 29, at the Times Union Center in Albany. Fan club presale begins Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public March 2.

    Look for Metallica to announce around 50 shows to round out the 2018 tour schedule. Frontman James Hetfield admitted in a 2016 interview that, “My body has told me to tell these guys that 50 shows a year is kind of what we can do, so make the best of those. And I think we all kind of agree in that. But 50 shows a year, that’s pretty good. My body can handle that. Body, mind and spirit all need to kind of revitalize themselves at home, and days off for voices — things like that — so 50 shows a year, it goes pretty quick, I’m sure.”

    Since their debut in 1981, Metallica has released 10 studio albums, a cover album, four live albums and five EP’s. Their last six studio albums, all debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. They have sold over 125 million records worldwide, making them one of the most commercially successful bands of all time. Since 1991, the band became the third best-selling artist with over 58 million albums in the U.S. alone. Metallica has released over 37 singles, and won nine Grammy Awards.

    “Worldwired” Tour Dates:

    Oct. 2 – Kohl Center – Madison, WI
    Oct. 4 – Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
    Oct. 6 – Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NB
    Oct. 8 – Alerus Center – Grand Forks, ND
    Oct. 11 – Denny Sanford Premier Center – Sioux Falls, SD
    Oct. 13 – Bell MTS Place – Winnipeg, MB Canada
    Oct. 15 – Sasktel Centre – Saskatoon, SK Canada
    Oct. 16 – Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center – Milwaukee, WI
    Oct. 18 -PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
    Oct. 20 – Bryce Jordan Center – State College, PA
    Oct. 22 – Spectrum Arena – Charlotte, NC
    Oct. 27 – KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
    Oct. 29 – Times Union Center – Albany, NY
    Nov. 26 – T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, NV
    Nov. 28 – Taco Bell Arena – Boise, ID
    Nov. 30 – Vivnt Smart Home Arena – Salt Lake City, UT
    Dec. 2 – Spokane Arena – Spokane, WA
    Dec. 5 – Moda Center – Portland, OR
    Dec. 7 – Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA
    Dec. 9 – Save Mart Center – Fresno, CA
    Jan. 18 – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
    Jan. 20 – Verizon Center – Little Rock, AR
    Jan. 22 – Legacy Arena at the BJCC – Birmingham, AL
    Jan. 24 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
    Jan. 28 – PNC Arena – Raleigh, NC
    Jan. 30 – U.S. Bank Arena – Cincinnati, OH
    Feb. 1 – Quicken Loans Arena – Cleveland, OH
    Feb. 28 – Don Haskins Center -El Paso, TX
    March 2 – United Supermarkets Arena – Lubbock, TX
    March 4 – Intrust Bank Arena – Wichita, KS
    March 6 – Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO
    March 9 – KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY
    March 11 – Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
    March 13 – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, Mi

  • Marilyn Manson has ‘Meltdown’ in Return to NY

    Returning to New York for the first time since his fall from a stage prop tipping over on him at the Hammerstein Ballroom in September, Marilyn Manson is once again making headlines while performing in the Empire State.

    marilyn mansonAs described by concert goers in attendance at The Paramount, an intoxicated Manson took the stage, performed a few songs, and rambled incoherently before walking off stage early.

    People.com reports that Manson used his past injury as part of his stage act at the beginning of his set, as he was pushed out on stage in a wheelchair by guys in hospital scrubs. While keeping his back to the crowd for most of his brief performance, he started and stopped songs several times, and incoherently played the guitar for several agonizing minutes.

    Some fans are going as far a saying that 49-year-old Manson had a meltdown on stage. He threw his mic down, pushed over equipment on stage and demanded fans tell him that they love him. As he walked off the stage for good, fans chanted “Fuck you, Manson.”

    Fans flooded to the venue’s Instagram to voice their displeasure of the night’s event on a post advertising the show, with many asking the venue and organizers to issue a refund. One fan stated on their site, “The worst event I ever experienced. He should be held accountable for his actions and not get paid for this.” Another fan posted, “3 songs in and the dude had a mental breakdown or was a drunk dick. Remember @marilynmanson we pay $$$ to see you, I’m getting a fucking refund. Pissed! Waste of time.”

    One fan who had a meet and greet before the show with Satan’s favorite son, took to Reddit and shared his experience before the show.“There’s no more to it. I had the meet and greet. He was wasted. He was worse on stage. Rambled on and on about us loving him. Here’s the set Reflecting Deep six Rambling on and on for minutes Disposable teens (cut short) He’s off stage for 5-10 Back and rambles for 20 min about who knows what Saturnalia (poorly played riff over and over for 10+min into lunchbox riff with him doing spoken word for 15 min. Stumbled off stage. Band finished lunchbox the right way. Gods gonna cut you down house music.”

    The show at The Paramount was originally slated to take place on Oct 9, 2017, but Manson’s stage injury put him on the shelf for nine months, canceling and rescheduling several tour dates.

  • ‘Hamilton’ Headlines Proctors 2018-19 Season

    Schenectady’s historic Proctors Theater, has announced it’s 2018-2019 theater lineup. The lineup boasts several hot ticket Broadway attractions including Hamilton that are headed to the Electric City’s version of New York City Theater.

    Gracing the stage during this season will be a blockbuster lineup that includes the musical “Hamilton,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” and “The Book of Mormon.” The lineup was revealed Monday at the venue’s “Proctors Bash” event. Other shows featured in the season’s lineup include “Anastacia,”  “A Bronx Tale,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “School of Rock,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “Waitress.”

    Proctors CEO Philip Morris, commented on the upcoming season, “Almost all of our titles in our Key Private Bank Series, and our exclusives, too, are still hot tickets on Broadway right now. We’ve never had this happen before and it shows that Proctors continues to be a major player in touring Broadway. It’s here, right in Schenectady.”

    Lin-Manual Miranda’s “Hamilton,” is slated for a two week stay in the Capital Region Aug. 13-25, 2019. The musical is about the nation’s first treasury secretary and founding father, Alexander Hamilton. Inspired by the 2004 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography by Ron Chernow, “Hamilton,” was nominated for a record 16 Tony awards, taking home 11, while earning Miranda a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

    Turning the stage lights on to start the season will be “Anastacia.” From the creators of the classic “Ragtime,” “Anastacia” takes us to back to the twilight of the Russian empire to the exhilaration of 1920 Paris. “Anastacia” will run Oct. 9-14, 2018.

    Chazz Palminteri’s autobiographical story “A Bronx Tale,” will run at Proctors on Oct. 23-28. First made famous on the big screen, actor Robert Neary, who plays Palminteri’s “Sonny” character on stage said this about the musical. “It’s the PG version of the film. There aren’t nearly as many F bombs. And I get to sing.”

    The Andrew Lloyd Weber classic, “The Phantom of the Opera,” will come out of the shadows for a two week stay on April 25 – May 5, 2019. Actor Derrick Davis, a Long Island native who has been playing the title character for the past 7 months said, “How could you get tired of this brilliant musical. It was the first show my parents took me to see when I was a kid. Now that I’m a part of it, it’s a part of my life.”

    Called the “Best Musical of This Century” by the New York Times, “The Book of Mormon,” is a musical comedy about two young Mormon missionaries who travel to Africa to preach the Mormon religion. The Book will be performed May 14-19 2019.

    For those ready to get into the Christmas spirit, Proctors holiday offering, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will make a run at the theater on Dec 5-9, 2018.

  • Disturbed Enters Las Vegas Recording Studio

    Disturbed has hinted at a new release some time in 2018. The question is, what kind of release will it be?

    About a year ago, Disturbed frontman David Draiman stated that the band would do what many other bands have recently, and produce an acoustic EP before moving on to the band’s seventh full length studio album. No word if those plan are still intact or if the band will put the acoustic album on the shelf for a new full length effort.

    Disturbed has re-entered The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas where the band secretly recorded their last album Immortalized, and teamed up once again with producer Kevin Churko for another go around.

    Blabbermouth reported that in a 2016 interview with For Guitar Players Only, guitarist Dan Donegan commented on Churko, and the band clicking from the start during the band sixth studio album. He stated:

    We took some meetings with some big-name producers, just to see what they had to offer. It was just a great, eye-opening experience to know that there’s some geniuses that can kind of challenge you and throw these ideas out. When we met with Kevin Churko, we just felt something within the first hour, two hours that we were bouncing ideas off each other. It was pretty obvious that he just seemed like the right fit for us. We just felt like some of the suggestions he threw at us definitely helped elevate those songs to make them even hookier and riffier. It was just amazing. I didn’t really want to leave the studio. After nearly three and a half, four months of recording, I was a little sad when we were done. It just felt like, creatively, ‘Ah, man, I still want to keep going,’ but we already felt like we had such a strong album.

    Disturbed is slated to perform as one of the headliners for the 25th annual Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin on July 12-15.

  • Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa Release ‘Black Coffee’ Cover Album

    New Hartford native, Joe Bonamassa, teams up once again with multi-talented blues rocker Beth Hart, on their newly released album Black Coffee, which covers some classic recordings from legendary soul artist.

    Black Coffee will see the duo perform ten, time-honored soul tracks by artist like Ike & Tina Turner/Steve Marriot, Edgar Winter, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Lil’ Green, LaVern Baker, Howlin’ Wolf, Lucinda Williams, and Waldeck. The Grammy nominated duo turned to a familiar face in producer Kevin ‘Caveman’ Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Rush, and Bonamassa himself) who helped produce the duo’s Seesaw album in 2013.

    Bonamassa and crew sought out some of the best musicians in the music industry to help collaborate on Black Coffee including Anton Fig (Drums/Percussion), Ron Dziubla (Saxophone), and Lee Thornburg (Horn Arrangements/Trumpet/Trombone) and welcomed in Reese Wynans (Keyboards), Michael Rhodes (Bass), Rob McNelley (Rhythm Guitar), Paulie Cerra (Saxophone), Mahalia Barnes (Backing Vocals), Jade Macrae (Backing Vocals) and Juanita Tippins (Backing Vocals). The album was recorded at the Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas in five days.

    Producer Kevin Shirley talked about past sessions behind Black Coffee, and what they were tying to achieve on the album. He stated, “We’re trying not to dig into a playbook that’s been done many times which is the old soul classics. We try and find a different spin on it, originally it was about trying to find some songs that people didn’t know at all and bring them back to people’s attention.” Bonamassa added, “For me I’m able to explore the kind of music I have always admired from afar, but you don’t want to hear me singing Ella Fitzgerald…” Hart chimed in saying, “I would never do Ella Fitzgerald without being with Joe, the things I get to do with you are things I think I grew up always wanting to do, but never believed I could.” Bonamassa went on to explain, “It’s really predicated on the vocals. We can’t cut these tunes without Beth singing and once she starts singing, it’s the glue that inspires us to get the extra 10% out of the playing. If we just cut them and sang later, the magic wouldn’t be there.” Hart agreed adding,”That’s something the two of us stopped doing many, many years ago. There was all this layering and layering and then it’s time for you to sing and it’s like you’re not even making music any more. There’s nothing like being able to sit there live and see Joe, seeing the drums, seeing the bass, being able to see Kevin. I can feel the vibrations, it changes the whole thing.”

    Bonamassa became intrigued by Hart after seeing her perform on television, and even more impressed after seeing her perform a show in Switzerland. He would cross paths with her several times during separate runs of Europe. Wanting to try something new, Bonamassa was inspired to pair himself with a female musician with Hart being his first choice.

    Black Coffee Tracklist:

    Give It Everything You Got
    Damn Your Eyes
    Black Coffee
    Lullaby Of The Leaves
    Why Don’t You Do Right
    Saved
    Sitting On Top Of The World
    Joy
    Soul On Fire
    Addicted
    Baby, I Love You * Bonus Track

  • Sawyer Fredericks and Other Local Talent to Perform at 518Gives Benefit Sunday

    Update 02/04/2018: Capital Region fundraiser to help benefit the Center for Disability Services, #518Gives, ran another successful campaign in 2018 raising money, while setting a new record for the Center and it’s several other divisions helping to bring care the Capital Region including Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center, Life Quality Solutions Incubator, Prospect Center in Queensbury and St. Margaret’s Center in Albany.

    Taking place at the Radisson Hotel in Colonie, the fundraiser that included New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, New York Giants tight end Evan Engram, Sawyer Fredericks, Christina Kokonis-Viggers, and several other local area acts help raise $2,712,015. Children from the center had a special card waiting for Sawyer when he arrived at the event thanking him.

    Deputy Executive Director of the Center’s Foundation, Anne Schneider Costigan, has this to say about the Centers plans for the rest of the calendar year “In 2018, we are focusing on achievements through innovation. The Center’s dedicated staff and unique programs enable people with disabilities to find new ways to move and communicate by using technology and specialized equipment. The community shares in this success and has again responded with generous support. A big thank you from everyone at the Center, the place where people get better at life.”

    The center is still accepting donations online, by phone at 518-944-2121, or by texting the phrase 518Gives to 41444.

    Original Article Follows:

    This year’s #518Gives annual fundraiser to benefit the Center for Disability Services, will feature local talent along with New York Giants tight end Evan Engram, and new manager of the New York Yankees, Aaron Boone. The event is this Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Radisson Hotel, located at 205 Wolf Road in Colonie. The event will be open to the public and televised from noon to 7 p.m. on WXXA/FOX23.

    Season 8 winner of NBC’s “The Voice,” Sawyer Fredericks, will return to the fundraiser for a second time, performing at 5:40 p.m. and 6 p.m. He won season 8 as member of team Pharrell (Williams). The singer/songwriter from Fultonville will play songs from his third album Hide Your Ghost.

    Other local talent appearing at the benefit fundraiser includes internet sensation Christina Kokonis-Viggers, whose work has seen more than 15 million views on the web. Other locals taking part are vocalist Jenna Sue, Kris Coleman, Kelsey Dodd, Jacqueline Goldstein, EJ Ray, Capital Harmony A Cappella, that will include 14 members from three area high schools, Olivia Gilbert, Donald Hyman, singer Arlethia Jones, the Electric City Chorus, and father and daughter duo, Darryl and Alex Daily. Stockbridge 3 will kick off the event with “What A Wonderful World.

    A singing group from the Center for Disability Services adult program, The Expressions, will also perform, and the Center’s adult actors will perform a scene from “Beauty & the Beast.”

    For those looking to help support this outstanding cause, there are several ways to donate. You can text the phrase 518Gives to 41444, or donate online at the Center’s website. Call one of the several operators that will be standing by at 518-459-7070 to make a pledge that day, or simply show up to the Radisson Hotel in person and donate.

    For more information about the event, head to the Center’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and at #518Gives online. All proceeds from the fundraiser support the Center and its divisions:  Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center, Life Quality Solutions Incubator, Prospect Center in Queensbury and St. Margaret’s Center in Albany.