NYS Music 20​18

Category: Genres

  • Vusi Mahlasela brings Township! and the sounds of South Africa to The Egg

    With a crowd diverse in age and race, a lively audience came to the Swyer Theater at The Egg in Albany for a night of South African music that was engaging and inspired dancing in the crowd all throughout the evening. Celebrating the 100th birthday of global peacemaker Nelson Mandela and nearly 25 years of freedom from apartheid, Vusi Mahlasela paid tribute to South African music legends Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masakela, Dorothy Masuka and Brenda Fassie with ‘Township!’Vusi Mahlasela

    South African music was hard to come by for the mid-late 20th century, due to the cultural boycott on the country due to apartheid, and at home, black South African music was banned from the radio, so American records were played at pubs. Known as “The Voice,” Mahlasela hails from Mamelodi Township, outside Pretoria and experienced this music embargo first hand, yet became an international legend starting in the late 1980s. Accompanied by Mongeze Ntaka on guitar, Jimmy Mgwandi on bass and Ian Herman on drums, Mahlasela took the audience on a tour of South Africa’s sights, sounds and languages through a variety of songs from the influential artists that came before him.

    The night opened with the acoustic “Ubuhle” in the Hosa/Zulu dialect of South African – where there are 11 official languages – and was followed by a song about the beauty of the land, “Silang Magele” and “Jabula,” a song sung by a dove during harvest season. “Draaikies” by Dr. Phillip Tabane, was sung in a slang language of South Africa, combining elements of regional and European dialects. An untitled song referenced the pain of separation and was written on toilet paper while in jail. Here, Mahlasela spoke of Africa deserving better because Africa has been giving all along – through slavery, raw materials, and colonization, and still today through the neo-colonization seen by China.

    “Our Sand” was dedicated to the San people, who were the first people to walk the earth, also known as Bushmen. The upbeat and joyful Township songs closed the performance, starting with “Jesu” and “Uncolo.” “Unomeva” was inspired by the speakeasies of South Africa and the characters and musicians that were found there. Finally, Mahlasela mentioned the concept of Ubuntu, the quality of human virtues, including humanity, compassion, tolerance, love, among others. “Say Africa” was sung with the audience enthusiastically serving as the chorus. An encore of “Woza” gave a swingtown vibe to the Township we were welcomed into this evening.

    Setlist: Ubuhle, Silang Magele, Miyela Africa, Jabula, Amdokwe, Draaikies, When You Come Back, Untitled, Our Sand, Jesu, Uncolo, Unomeva, Say Africa

    Encore: Woza

  • Hearing Aide: Animal Sounds ‘Ennui’

    Animal Sounds EnnuiHaving originally started as a funk-based instrumental group, Animal Sounds is debuting their record Ennui, that will soon define them as one of the indie powerhouse bands that call Western New York their home. The five-piece group released an all instrumental EP back in 2015 titled Fling Mingus which had well written guitar duos and harmonically vibrant compositions that didn’t get too complex, making for an easy and interesting listen. A couple years later, the band released a single titled “Ghost” which had lyrics- marking a change in the group’s direction. Composed of Erik Gordon (vocals), Shawn Brogan (guitar), Alex Brophy (guitar), Angel Figueroa (bass/keys), and Theo Schirmuhly (drums), Animal Sounds presents a versatile and eclectic sound that doesn’t veer far from their roots while also solidifying the band’s progression into a vocally driven sound with intriguing instrumentals. While this new release, Ennui, can take a very strong cue from the group’s main influences, there’s enough in this 8-track album to warrant a close look at how well the band is able to execute these sounds and create a product that oozes the stylings of some big-name alt rock/indie groups.

    A major highlight of the album are the guitar performances. The clean lead duos are reminiscent of Minus the Bear, with both guitars playing melodic parts that mesh as one voice. This is apparent right from the get-go, with the second track “Hesitation” starting off with a conversation between the two guitars, one just slightly grittier than the other so as to differentiate the voices enough. Schirmuhly’s drums do a great job to accent both the bass and guitar lines. On the seventh song, “Wanderlust”, the hi-hat accentuates beats in a way that makes different parts of the guitar line pop out, while the bass drum syncs with the bass to achieve a really big lower end without the frequencies getting muddied in the mix. The bass overall keeps a steady groove in each song, never becoming too flashy but also not becoming redundant or droney. It leaves room for the guitars to shine and will even jump in on a well composed trio part like in “Antelope”.

    The vocals are very strong from top to bottom. Gordon weaves his way through already melodically layered songs, finding open spots to color the music with his own melody. The lyrics seem to ride on one theme- a dissolution with the current state of one’s being and how growing into adulthood amplifies those feelings. It’s a darker lyrical focus, which matches the melancholy mood of the songs well. The harmonies are a big stand-out, with numerous vocal parts being layered to create atmospheric backdrops to mesh with the ethereal guitars. The group displays a lot of chemistry, and strong song structuring.

    One thing that comes out a bit much are the sounds from the group’s influences. A few of the tracks instrumentally sound very similar to a Tame Impala song, sometimes Minus the Bear. Despite these parallels, the songs are well written and do a very good job of nailing down the timbres and subtleties those groups use in their music- an achievement regardless. Animal Sounds has a lot of chemistry, and it’d be interesting to hear a bit less of the influences and more of the unique sound the band can bring to the table. The group puts on a very strong live show too, covering tunes that are complete departures from their influences and making them their own. If you enjoy the album, get out to one of Animal Sound’s shows in the WNY area!

    Key Tracks: Hesitation, Wanderlust, Kid Dankë Schon

  • Musicians Show Politicians How to Play Together at Hudson Valley Votes

    “If you told my high school self that I’d be receiving an email from Natalie Merchant,” Paul Rudd quipped, “asking me to take the stage with Mary Stuart Masterson and introduce Antonio Delgado, I would’ve said, ‘What’s email?’.”

    The event– Hudson Valley Votes– took place at UPAC on October 20 and featured prominent Hudson Valley residents. In addition to 10,000 Maniacs’ frontwoman Natalie Merchant, long-time David Bowie band member Gail Ann Dorsey, renowned songwriter Dar Williams, Lettuce collaborator Alecia Chakour, and Woodstock favorites Rachael Yamagata and Simi Stone participated in the musical portion of the evening.

    Natalie Merchant, Gail Ann Dorsey and Resistance Revival Chorus

    The show, organized to trump up support for local progressive politicians, began with a rendition of Woody Guthrie classic “This Land Is Your Land.” The itinerary progressed fluidly; after the Guthrie cover, children and teenagers from Kingston’s Energy Dance Company took the stage and invaded the aisles, putting on a high energy hip-hop dance performance that earned a standing ovation. The youth movement continued with a subsequent performance by members of Woodstock’s Rock Academy.

    “We aim to turn New York blue through the activism of young people!” one of the event’s organizers exclaimed. It was reiterated throughout the evening that young voters would need to show up on November 6 in order for the progressives’ candidates to succeed. In addition to young people, women carried the night. Many of the featured candidates were females running in their first elections; most of them expressed displeasure with the unequal representation of women in Congress.

    Merchant, the musical director, sang a moving rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” vocally accompanied by Dorsey and Yamagata, with Jack DeJohnette on the piano. Dorsey, who womanned the stage more than anyone, showed off her vocal versatility all night. She also collaborated with Williams, Chakour, and The Rock Academy.

    Gail Ann Dorsey (left) and Dar Williams (right)

    The musical highlight of the evening undoubtedly came, however, from the Resistance Revival Chorus. More than a dozen women, resplendently clad in white, put on a haunting acapella protest performance, singing about marching to take back Congress, the Supreme Court, the White House, and to take back power. They received a well-earned, deafening ovation from the exuberant audience.

    Keynote speaker Antonio Delgado, who is challenging John Faso for a seat in the US House of Representatives, followed the Resistance Revival Chorus by continuing the tone of resistance. “We cannot solve problems,” Delgado claimed, “if we do not have civic discourse.” The charismatic politician joked about the difficulties of raising twin boys, spoke about challenges he faced growing up as a black boy in Schenectady, and vowed to supporters, “I will always be straight with you and I will always be accountable to you.”   

    Antonio Delgado, NY19th District Candidate

    While the political sphere in the country seems to be growing increasingly partisan, musicians showed the beauty of collaboration Saturday night. The crowd was energetic and the atmosphere full of hope. The sold-out event appears to have been a success, although attendees and participants may be waiting until November 7 to make their final determination.

  • Scumdog Millionaire$ plan Inaugural performance post-Disco Biscuits in Albany

    After The Disco Biscuits wrap up their two-night run at The Palace Theatre in Albany, head down to Parish Public House for an after-party featuring the debut of Scumdog Millionaire$. Born out of Funk Night in Albany, the inaugural affair will focus on exploring the sounds of wild improvisation amid heavy grooves.

    Scumdog Millionaire$ features Rob Compa (Dopapod), Adrian Tramontano (Kung Fu), Beau Sasser (Kung Fu) and Justin Henricks (Wurliday). The show starts at 11:30pm and goes late – $10 cover at the door. More info can be found here.
    Scumdog Millionaire$

  • Pearlpalooza 2018 Brings Sunny End to Summer in Albany

    The 2018 Pearlpalooza met a warmer-than-expected Saturday afternoon, bringing plenty of fantastic music to Pearl Street in Albany from both the local and national scenes to mark the last weekend of summer.

    Kicking off the afternoon at 1pm was the winner of Jupiter Hall’s Battle of the Bands El Modernist with a small but engaged crowd of Pearlpalooza early birds. Following El Modernist was another Albany band who’s quickly gaining ground with their garage rock-pop sound, Good Fiction.

    Moving on from one band in particular who caught the attention of many new listeners was Kitten, based out of the New York City area (with some strong Los Angeles roots from singer Chloe Chaidez). The Greeting Committee followed with an upbeat, light-hearted indie rock set before trading off to Vermont’s own  Caroline Rose. Closing out the afternoon with a large gathering in front of The Hollow was London-based Superorganism, an electro-pop group made up of talent from around the world whose stage show had as much detail as the composition of their songs.

  • Warren Haynes Celebrates 30 Years of Christmas Jam

    Boasting an impressive 30 year run, the preparations for Warren Haynes’ Annual Christmas Jam are  underway. The popular, two-night benefit will take place on Dec. 7 and 8 in Asheville, NC at the U.S. Cellular Center. Tickets for presale were released on Oct. 19, along with a limited number of discounted two-day passes and VIP packages. Regular ticket packages go on sale at 10 a.m. on October 26th.

    Grammy Award-winning vocalist-songwriter, prolific producer, and notorious guitarist, Warren Haynes has more than upheld his reputation by continuing to curate performances that draw crowds year after year. Haynes spoke on the event’s transformation over the years stating,

    I can’t believe that it has been 30 years since myself and a few friends held a small event in a local club so we could all play together around the holidays and donate a small amount of money to charity… It’s gone from being a local event to an international one and we couldn’t have done it without the help of all the great artists, bands, and musicians that have donated their time through the years… This is truly going to be the biggest and best Christmas Jam yet.

    This year’s line-up, in alphabetical order, for Dec. 7 is as follows: Dark Side of the Mule, Grace Potter, Jamey Johnson, Marco Benvento, and Mike Gordon of Phish. Dec. 8, also in alphabetical order, includes: Dave Grohl and friends play “PLAY”, Eric Church, Gov’t Mule, Jim James, and Joe Bonamassa. While local and international music fans can expect stellar performances both evenings, the entertainment doesn’t stop there. There’s no need to wait around till dusk; attendees can treat themselves to “Xmas Jam By Day” concerts and events. Also note that there are still other artists to be announced as the Christmas Jam draws nearer so be on the lookout for further announcements.

    The 2018 Christmas Jam marks 30 years of great music, but it also commemorates 20 years of Warren Haynes collecting donations specifically for the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Haynes’ investment in his community and long-term commitment to this cause has resulted in the Christmas Jam collectively raising roughly 2.3 million dollars for Habitat for Humanity. For concert goers looking to be more directly involved in the charity, there is another day event which coincides with the concert. “Before the Jam, Lend a Hand” brings together the musical artists, event staff, and attendees to help construct those homes which are only possible due to concert proceeds.

    The link below is a video of Warren Haynes performing “Melissa” with Warren Haynes with Jake Shimabukuro at last year’s 29th Christmas Jam.

  • The Disco Biscuits Come Out Swinging in Worcester

    On a chilly New England night in Worcester, Massachusetts, Disco Biscuits fans gathered at the famous Worcester Palladium for the group’s first run of fall tour. The room was nearly filled up by the time the band took the stage and people were ready to dance their butts off to get warmed up.

    To open up the first set, the group started into “Uber Glue,” an ambient, synth-driven song that, like most Biscuits songs, acts as a great jumping off point for jams. The band wasted no time getting this rendition started, jamming on the tune for well over 20 minutes before building the groove into the beloved “Caterpillar,” which took the energy from “Uber Glue”’s jam and launched into the song’s first verses. Bassist Marc Brownstein and drummer Allen Aucoin kept the groove locked in as guitarist Jon “Barber” Gutwillig and keyboardist Aron Magner led the song’s chorus, joined by the crowd singing the lyrics passionately and dancing their butts off. Following the chorus, the group spent some time building an upbeat techno groove that brought the song into Brownstein’s first vocal effort of the night, “Miracles.” The jam in “Miracles” showed off the band’s ability to work as a unit as they brought the techno jam they had built into an ambient, almost soundscape-like section introduced by Magner and Brownie.

    disco biscuits worcester

    The group let the soundscape breathe a bit before dropping into the darker “Air Song,” which blew through the lyrics fairly quickly and led them immediately into a funk jam, mostly led by Magner on a Clavinet sounding patch. The jam didn’t really leave the song’s main structure, acting more as a platform for Barber and Magner to build off of, before the group brought it back into “Miracles,” starting off the second half of the first set sandwich. The group continued through the song’s verse and chorus sections until they broke into a dark fast-paced jam that featured the first big peak of the night, and brought the song back into the set opener “Uber Glue,” before dropping into the last verse of “Caterpillar.” The energy from “Miracles > Uber Glue” culminated in one last passionate chorus section of “Caterpillar,” before the group ended the set for a short set break. During the set break, Brownie tweeted out the fact that 75% of the songs in set 1 were songs written during the current Allen era of the band, saying “…let’s see if that trend continues into the second set!!!!”

    “Rivers” kicked off the second set, getting into a Barber-led jam after the lyrics had been sung. The whole group was very active in bringing the song into an up-tempo peak before slowly ending the song with one of the main riffs. Following “Rivers” was the segment of the night, “Catalyst > Great Abyss > Boomshanker > Mr. Don,” which was filled with deep jamming and seamless transitions. “Catalyst” came out swinging, Barber following a very up tempo composed section with a high energy solo on his green Stratocaster aptly named “Money Bags.” “Catalyst”’s jam section spanned over nearly 30 minutes and was an exemplary musical representation of what the Biscuits are all about, letting a jam develop naturally and working together to bring it new places. Barber led the song into a another grand peak with another energetic solo before the group brought the jam into uncharted territory and started exploring.

    Brownie, Magner, and Barber locked in on a riff that ended up being the basis for a good chunk of the jam before Brownie started driving the bus into “The Great Abyss,” a very synth heavy song that was also released during the Allen era of the band. “Great Abyss” also featured a lot of experimenting from Brownie and Magner, while Barber added textural shredding that made the jam feel extremely tense at points. Out of nowhere the group dropped into the dub reggae-esque tune “Boomshanker,” which featured a laid back synth bass line from Brownie while Barber and Magner layered textures together to add to the reggae sound. The jam was fairly straightforward, never really leaving the bounds of the main song itself. Towards the end of the jam, Magner started playing around with some organ sounds which lifted the song into the fan favorite “Mr. Don,” which lifted the tempo up a bit after “Boomshanker.” During the whole of “Mr. Don,” Barber had a smile plastered on his face, showing that he could tell they had just performed an incredible set. Following the main portion of the song, Barber took an enormous solo that was supported by the driving force of the band behind them, and led the song into a quick peak before ending the set. For an encore, the group performed the Brownstein-penned “Portal to an Empty Head.”

    The Disco Biscuits performed a fantastic show in Worcester, MA, and will hopefully be back next October to continue the trend of awesome shows at the Palladium. They perform at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas November 1-3, and at The Palace Theatre in Albany November 23-24, where Albany jamband Formula 5 will open up the night on the 23rd. Check out the photo gallery below for a taste of the first night of the run.

    Disco Biscuits, Worcester, MA, October 20,  2018

    Set 1: Uber Glue > Caterpillar > Miracles > Air Song > Miracles > Uber Glue > Caterpillar

    Set 2: Rivers, Catalyst > The Great Abyss > Boomshanker > Mr. Don

    Encore: Portal to an Empty Head

    Photos by ATS Media

  • Premiere: Animal Sounds debut ‘Antelope’ off upcoming album “Ennui”

    Indie psych rockers Animal Sounds from Rochester, NY will release their debut LP Ennui on Friday, October 26th and today premiere with NYS Music “Antelope.”

    animal sounds antelope

    Guitarist Shawn Brogan had this to say about the track: “Dating in the millennial age is confusing and the lack of communication often results in one person wanting completely different things than the other. “Antelope” was written about witnessing a friends-with-benefits situation turn ugly and the emotional turmoil that came with it.”

    Animal Sounds upcoming LP Ennui showcases a variety of songwriting capabilities and progressive song structures, with influences such as of melodic guitar riffs from Minus The Bear, psych groove’s of Tame Impala, and the rock n roll energy of Cage the Elephant found throughout the LP. Follow Animal Sounds on Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Instagram.

  • Aqueous Shares 2018 Halloween Concert Theme

    Buffalo-based, rock-quartet Aqueous is celebrating the launch of their latest LP, Color Wheel, with one of their most extensive tours to date starting on October 24th in Hamden, CT. This year Aqueous will be bringing their notorious improvisational style to the legendary Knitting Factory in Brooklyn for Halloween 2018. “We take Halloween pretty seriously over at camp AQ. In previous years we’ve done some wild themes where we’ll incorporate all the music and the whole vibe of whatever the theme is,” shares Aqueous guitarist, Mike Gantzer. Previous Halloween themes have included Wizard of Oz, Back To The Future and Super Mario Brothers.

    Attendees of this year’s Halloween special can expect a one-of-a-kind, Nicktoons influenced performance from the group backed with support from Chicago-based band Mungion (pronounced mung-yin). Gantzer spoke further regarding the excitement and motivation behind their upcoming event by stating,

    We wanted to pay tribute to a golden era of cartoon history: Nicktoons! We all grew up loving shows like Doug, Rocko’s Modern Life, Rugrats, Ren and Stimpy, Hey Arnold, Spongebob Squarepants, and the list goes on and on. The music from a lot of these shows is so awesome, and it’s gonna be a blast diving down this rabbit hole of nostalgia and blending the whole Nickelodeon vibe within the AQ sound. Add Mungion as support to the mix, and you’ve got a pretty bombastic show going down for Halloween this year.

    Limited tickets remain for Aqueous’ Halloween hi-jinks at the Knitting Factory. All other upcoming tour dates for the Color Wheel tour can be purchased via Aqueous’ website.

  • Older, Wiser and Sexier in Albany: Timberlake Brings Man of the Woods to Upstate

    Justin Timberlake kept step with his reputation for fast-paced, almost dizzying energy at his “Man of the Woods” tour on Saturday, October 20th at the Times Union Center. Timberlake and The Tennessee Kids infiltrated hip-hop music with some country vibe with a good outcome to an arena of mostly screaming, gyrating women of varying ages.

    In a dramatic entry, complete with laser show and smoke, Timberlake danced in with the same high energy he had as a teen performer in his boy band, NSYNC, but with the sexy confidence of a much wiser, older performer. He appeared to be having a great time, singing and dancing to “Filthy,” and reminding the audience repeatedly that he knew where he was, calling out to Albany during choruses.

    Timberlake looked to be broadening his style a bit, showing a music video by the TN Kids covering “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” before coming on stage. But after crooning out the John Denver song, the words, “If you love this country, you’re a country boy” scrolled across the screen, literally reminding fans to be inclusive in their thoughts about what to expect from Timberlake.

    Timberlake was dressed in a denim jacket adorned with a pine tree, black denim, and a white T underneath. His white sneakers shone in the light as he moved his feet with grace, appearing effortless as he danced in perfect time with his dancers and fellow musicians.

    Timberlake Man of the Woods

    He sang songs from his new album, “Midnight Summer Jam,” clapping along and highlighting musicianship in his band as much as his dancing. He appeared re-made, in some ways, to highlight a more folksy persona. His songs touched on the topic of love for his famous wife, Jessica Beil, and his young son Sam.

    Even so, the athletic performer didn’t shy away from old tunes. He jumped and danced to “Sexy Back,” reaching back to his fans from his first solo releases in the early 2000s. Indeed, some of the fans seemed to love him since his days on the Mickey Mouse Club, singing along with “Cry Me a River” and “Mirrors.” He invited Albany to “shake your upstate ass” as he himself shook his with the vivacity of a much younger hip-hop artist.

    Timberlake’s singing and dancing are only part of the show that makes it so much fun, though. He interacted with the crowd, talking with fans and revealing an audience member’s baby’s gender (it was a girl, or as Timberlake stated, “A little princess”) and pointing to audience members who seemed genuinely engaged. The sound at the TU was well balanced, making each syllable accessible to the crowd so that they could participate. Often, Timberlake dropped his microphone and let the audience sing along entire verses with glee.

    Timberlake Man of the Woods

    The screens that dropped from the ceiling, reflecting with videos, added to the visual appeal of the night. This show was different than most pop concerts brought to Albany; it was unexpected and clearly reaching for some creative messages. There were sets that changed: a campfire for a transition portion of the concert that featured the TN Kids’ vocalists, grasses and trees to generate a natural feel, and a background video about accepting all love added to the uniqueness of the experience. And then there were the laser shows, almost never used in our community for concerts.

    This was an arena performance.

    Most rockers from the 1990s return to Albany to play just their old stuff and stand in one place; Timberlake introduced some new music woven in with older songs, danced like he’s still 16, and helped fans forget they were in the warehouse of the TU for two hours.

    Timberlake Man of the Woods

    After the campfire sub-story, which quite possibly highlighted some of the sweetest voices by TN Kids’ singing Fleetwood Mac, Laryn Hill, Beatles, and John Denver’s covers, Timberlake played a tender “What Goes Around…Comes Around” before transitioning back to his current album. Returning to the main stage for “Say Something,” Timberlake’s recent hit with Chris Stapleton, the energy skyrocketed through the last seven songs.

    The high energy performer had fun, and so did his fans who were exhausted just watching him run, dance, jump and sing with his beautiful, velvet tenor voice. There were no bad seats in the house, as Timberlake played to the whole house, moving around so much between stages and on a walkway. For over two hours, Timberlake and the TN Kids tirelessly celebrated on stage.

    While it appears Timberlake is reaching for a new branding of sorts, he also appears to know the formula to keep fans blissfully engaged. By expanding to country music a bit, the wise Timberlake is making a nod to his birthplace, Tennessee, that is exploding bluegrass sound at present, while also staying engaged with the hip-hop fan base that grew his popularity the past 20+ years.

    Timberlake Man of the Woods

    His new songs, beautiful personal love songs to his wife and child, certainly show a more grown, mature performer who has the wisdom not to forget the past in search of the future. And his fans are learning from his wisdom: they too, regardless of age, appear to love Timberlake as much today as they did yesterday, if not more.

    Justin Timberlake certainly brought sexy back to Albany: an older, wiser, more mature sexy than years past, a sexy that was way more enjoyable than expected.

    Setlist: Filthy, Midnight Summer Jam, LoveStoned, SexyBack, Man of the Woods, Higher Higher, Señorita, Suit & Tie, My Love, Cry Me a River, Mirrors, Drink You Away, Until the End of Time(acoustic), Dreams (Fleetwood Mac cover), Ex-Factor (Lauryn Hill cover) Come Together (The Beatles cover), Thank God I’m a Country Boy (John Denver cover), Morning Light, What Goes Around… Comes Around, (acoustic)Say Something, Montana, Summer Love, Rock Your Body, Supplies, Like I Love You, Can’t Stop the Feeling!