NYS Music 20​18

Category: Media

  • Watch: Scott Hannay Plays Video Games perform “Chemical Plant Zone” from Sonic 2

    Scott Hannay Plays Video Games (Multiplayer Edition) opened up for Pink Talking Fish on Saturday, April 21 at Putnam Place, and have released the video for “Chemical Plant Zone” from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Scott shares some insight on the set below.

    “This particular multiplayer edition was significant to me, as I had Pat (Nolan) and Rye (Wylie), a rhythm section I’d played with locally in a number of different projects for years as I was growing as a musician, and also Colin (Shore), who enjoys the best games to win real money, and who I’d just spent more than a year out there in the trenches on tour with. Everyone came together without a rehearsal aside from a short bit of testing questionable sections at soundcheck, as is the way all of these sets have been. I have charts and notation put together to help separate parts for everyone, and keep communication clear so we can all have a super-enjoyable time playing the music of our childhood that a lot of us at the time never realized was so listenable and memorable…and then jam it out proper.”

    Scott Hannay Plays Video Games (Multiplayer Edition) will next perform on Friday, May 25 at JP Bruno’s in Glens Falls, NY as part of the official 102.7 WEQX Primus Afterparty. The lineup includes Scott Hannay – keys (Mister F), Matt Pickering – drums (Mister F), Lowell Wurster – percussion (Lucid), Matt Richards – keys (Formula 5), Bill Comstock – bass (Brickdrop) and Matt Dempsey – guitar (Cosmic Dust Bunnies) More info can be found here. Read our January interview Scott and get a behind the scenes look at from where his unique project developed.

    For comparison, here’s a gameplay video of the Chemical Plant Zone on Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

  • Photo Gallery: The Disco Biscuits at The Fillmore Philadelphia

    The Disco Biscuits played night two of a three-night run at The Fillmore in Philadelphia last weekend on April 20.

    The show featured two seamless sets of Biscuits who dusted off both “Commercial Amen” and “Boom Shanker,” both of which hadn’t been played since 2010. The Disco Biscuits next head to Asheville and Colorado at the end of May, along with hosting their annual Camp Bisco in July.

    April 20, 2018 Setlist
    Set 1: Helicopters > Little Betty Boop > Commercial Amen > Helicopters, Save The Robots
    Set 2: Spraypaint > Boom Shanker > Mulberry’s Dream* > Tempest > Tricycle > Spraypaint
    Encore: After Midnight > Spacebirdmatingcall
    *inverted version

  • Watch: 14 Trapdoors Music Video for ‘Holy Water’

    Buffalo rap group 14 trapdoors – Short Moscato, Bendyface and Wza – have partnered with Mass Appeal to premiere the video for “Holy Water,” a vividly mind-altering experience. The self-produced single unveils clever rhymes traded bar-for-bar atop a minimalistic track highlighted with an echoing bass, ticking snares and haunting operatic rock backing ad-libs.

    Directed by S’likedat, the psychedelic rollercoaster reflects on their hometown life in Buffalo, New York and symbolizes their cleansing relationship with music. 14 trapdoors explains, “Holy Water supposed to cleanse the soul. We use music to cleanse our soul. The music is our holy water,” with Short Moscato calling the song “a collage of our lives.”

    With the focus on the Queen City, Wza says, “We wanted to show the world how we get down here in Buffalo. The video is a tripped-out glimpse into how we’re living and the friends and fellow artists we surround ourselves with for motivation and inspiration.” And that trippy video by S’likedat? Bendyface considers it “either the cure or cause of epilepsy.” They’ll perform at Mohawk Place on Tuesday, April 24.

    ‪14 trapdoors have self-made a sub genre of hip hop, coined New Trap Boom Bap, and draw on a wide range of influences that span Aesop Rock, Big L, El-P, Jay Z and fellow Buffalo artists Westside Gunn and Conway, as well as Pink Floyd, Prince and Led Zeppelin. “People who gravitate toward the golden age of ‘90s boom bap will fuck with it because we focus on lyricism and new age youngins will fuck with it because we have songs with a more ‘trappy’ vibe,” Bendyface says.

    14 Trapdoors

    ‪The rappers met on the Buffalo hip hop scene and decided to pool their assets during the summer of 2016 when they all happened to release projects at the same time. They are all solo artists and Bendyface is also a member of the duo Chronic Collective. WZA mixed and mastered their recordings, resulting in them spending a lot of time together at his studio.

    The name 14 trapdoors pays homage to their hometown. The 14 represents the summation of the digits in their 716 area code and trapdoors is a reference to the city’s DIY scene. “Everybody you know is trapping something out their house, whether it deals with music, art or drugs, and when you are a rapper, you need all three of those things,” WZA says. “So you find yourself walking through many trapdoors.”

    ‪They attribute their sound to Buffalo, a city where one of hip hop’s most respected eras still gets its props. “Our whole stance on music is that It’s all about truly being yourself and being honest with yourself,” WZA says.

  • Celebrating with The Dave DiPrimo Band

    The Dave DiPrimo Band (DDB) was back at it at Buta Pub on Saturday April 14. The band brought their upbeat attitude to warm up a crowd that was brave enough to venture through the ice and the rain, and had the place on fire all night long. The band consisting of lead singer Dave DiPrimo, saxophonist and guitarist Kares Gregory, drummer Reid Hoffmeier, and bassist Ian Benz; has been performing around New York State together for over a year.

    The band has a constantly evolving sound that is electric and catchy. DDB came to Buta Pub with one goal in mind, to celebrate. DDB did so in a fantastic way with the theme of the show being a glow party. DDB brought glow sticks and glow glasses for the crowd who enjoyed every minute of it. DDB played some some fan favorites like the spicy Latin melody of “Selena” and the always catchy “Caroline”. DDB always brings an eclectic mix of fast paced songs like “End of the World” and slows it down and connects with the audience with the slower rhythms of songs like “Four Letter Word” and “Whiskey Melody”.

    The smooth sounds of Kares Gregory on the sax makes the slow songs methodical and dreamy while on the faster paced songs like “Selena” the sax drives the tempo of the song pushing the pace and then reeling it in in the tense moments of the song. Gregory is also a stellar lead guitar player as he shreds solos on songs like “End of the World” and “Whiskey Melody”.  Drummer Reid Hoffmeier is always great as he controls a lot of the band’s emotions and feelings throughout the show. Not only is Hoffmeier an amazing drummer who can do everything that DDB requires him to do and more, he is the underlying humor and emotion that the guys are feeling during their show. Ian Benz was spectacular as always on the bass; fulfilling that low under tone that DDB was missing back when the original band was put together years ago. The front man and the person the band is titled after is Dave DiPrimo. All the songs are written by DiPrimo and DiPrimo will lead the band to spontaneous jam sessions at some point in the show.

    At Buta Pub the crowd cheered for the jam session as DDB uses this opportunity for crowd participation. Whether it’s a hula contest or simply a call and answer song, the band always brings the room to life. DiPrimo not only has a voice that can hit all the ranges of the demanding setlist; whether its screaming in “End of the World” and in parts of “Selena” or the soft gentle whisper of “Four Letter Word” and at the end of “Out in the Cold”, DiPrimo can do it all as he executes every word with passion and clarity. DiPrimo also sports three different guitars throughout the band performance. The classic electric acoustic he uses for the softer songs, the Resonator he uses for some of the folk songs and the electric for solos on songs like “Glory Days” and “Know you Best”. DiPrimo’s guitar playing has improved over the time DDB has been together as the solos he played sounded crisp. His confidence not only as a singer and guitar player can be seen improving in every show; but also his confidence speaking to the crowd on a more personal level.

    The sizable crowd enjoyed every moment of DDB and was crowded around the stage dancing and having a good time. DDB will be performing on April 27 at Funk ‘n Waffles Music Hall with Corey Glover of Living Colour and The Alchemystics. The Dave DiPrimo Band has released two albums, the first being One Year with original band members and Reflections with the current band. Both CD’s are available for purchase at all DDB shows with other merchandise that the band sells. You can also find DDB’s music on all music streaming sites like: Spotify, Apple Music, I tunes, Google Play, Amazon and all of DDB’s music can be streamed and purchased on their website

  • Listen to Episode 2 of Empire State Music Podcast

    Hailing from Buffalo NY, Intrepid Travelers combines elements of rock, funk, blues and jazz along with a powerhouse performance certain to make you move and groove. From their home studio in Buffalo, the band shares stories of influence, time on the road, and what exactly a “jam band” is anyway. Join host Andy Hogan for the second episode for Empire State Music Podcast.

    https://soundcloud.com/empirestatepod/intrepid-travelers

  • Photo Gallery: Twiddle at State Theater of Ithaca

    Twiddle jammed through 2 nights at the State Theater of Ithaca this past weekend. An acoustic set kicked off the first set on Friday, followed by a three-song second set.

    Saturday was capped with an encore of Tom Petty‘s “You Don’t Know how it Feels.” Catch Twiddle this Thursday at the 20th anniversary of Higher Ground in Winooski, VT and Friday in New Haven, CT at College Street Music Hall or this summer in Burlington at Tumbledown.

    Setlist, Friday April 13

    Set 1: Wildfire, Rocky Raccoon, Five, Hattibagen McRat, Glycerine Medley
    Set 2: Gatsby the Great, Polluted Beauty, Apples
    Set 3: White Light, Syncopated Healing, Beethoven and Greene, Jamflowman
    Encore: Orlando’s > Orlando’s

    Setlist, Saturday April 14

    Set 1: Peas and Carrots, Lost in the Cold, Drifter, Earth Mama, Doinkinbonk!!!
    Set 2: Nicodemus Portulay > Subconscious Prelude, Every Soul, Dr. Remidi’s Melodium
    Encore: You Don’t Know How it Feels

  • Formula 5 Shares Stage with Fellow Tri-state Bands at DROM NYC

    Formula 5‘s spring tour brought them to Manhattan’s East Village venue, DROM, on April 12 with support from other tri-state bands Goose, Animal Reporters and Bee The Band.

    Setlist:

    Breaking Glass, Blue -> Tangled Up In Blue+, The Clear* -> Booher’s Pass, Come Along

    + Bob Dylan cover
    * Unfinished

  • Premiere: Hartley’s Encore eponymous single off debut EP

    Albany’s breakout funkateers Hartley’s Encore are slated to release their eponymous debut EP on April 20, and have released the first single, also titled “Hartley’s Encore,” through NYS Music. The track was written by Hartley’s co-founders Luke Malamood and Christopher Oliver, and the album was recorded and mixed by Alan Evans of Soulive at Iron Wax Recording Studio in Millers Falls, MA.

    The refrain “Gonna give you an encore” fits perfectly as the last track of this 6-song EP, a party starter live and sure to leave those enjoying the EP wanting more. Driving horns stand out over a rous built by Luke Malamood’s keys and organ. Sax and trumpet interludes from Jeff Nania and Phil Chow, respectively, keep the flow of this funky number moving, just as your feet and hips will be once you get a taste of this funky troupe’s flavor.

    Hartley’s Encore will be released on Friday, April 20, with a Record Release Party on Friday, April 27 at The Hollow in Albany with special guest Victory Soul Orchestra and hosted by Guthrie/Bell Productions. They will also perform at Bowery Electric on May 18 in Manhattan. Pre-order the album now.

  • Ghost Light and Magic Beans Join Forces at Brooklyn Bowl

    Ghost Light kicked off the second leg of their debut tour on Wednesday, April 11. The scene’s newest supergroup, consisting of Tom Hamilton (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, American Babies, Brothers Past, Electron, and former Phil and Friends member), Holly Bowling, Steve Lyons (Nico’s Gun), Raina Mullen (American Babies) and Scotty Zwang (Dopapod), made their east coast debut at Brooklyn Bowl with support from Colorado favourites Magic Beans. Ghost Light’s show consisted of some favourites from Tom Hamilton’s past projects along with some fresh improvisations, and a couple of covers from The Stones and The Dead.

    Magic Beans:

    Set One:
    Give Me Something Real, Mission -> Do Your Thing, Mr Scientist, Lewd -> Lost and Found

    Ghost Light:

    Set 1: Untitled Jam, Simple Gift of Man *, Streets of Brooklyn

    Set 2: Untilted Song> Sway+> Lead Weight > Bullseye Blues

    E: Jack Straw&

    * Brothers Past Cover, First Time Played
    + Rolling Stones Cover, First Time Played
    & Grateful Dead Cover First Time Played

  • The Motet Sell Out Paradise Rock Club

    On April 7 Denver based powerhouse, The Motet, brought some serious funk out to Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA. With Front man Lyle Divinsky, and Guitarist Ryan Jalbert both being from New England, and with Boston’s own Strange Machines opening the night, this show had a hometown feel to it.

    The sold out crowd was packing in fast as Strange Machines was getting into their set. The band fed off the crowd and played what seemed like a continuous set. The quartet rocked a seamless cover of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and then into a Golden Rule > Remote Dream > Golden Rule. Remote Dream was a  nice throw back to their 2014 album, Turn the Tide, while blending with Golden Rule, of their new album, Voice of Color.

    The Motet came out to a sea of crazy Bostonians who only got wilder when Lyle opened his jacket to reveal his Celtics’ Larry Bird shirt. The band was high energy from the beginning and never seemed to slow down. Fan favorites “Keep on Don’t Stoppin” and “Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed” were met with an uproar. The crowd was also happy to hear a couple new tracks from the group, along with recently released singles, “Get It Right” and “Supernova”. The guys played a long set, ending with a beautiful rendition of George Clinton’s “Knee Deep”.

    The show in Boston was the Motet’s last of their Spring tour, and the band as of now has only one show between now and their Red Rocks headliner on June 2, which is the Sweetwater 420 Fest in Atlanta, Georgia. Check out pictures of both bands below via Zatchmo Lives Media.

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