NYS Music 20​18

Category: Genres

  • Mihali Sells Out Putnam Place, Discusses Creative Process, Inspiration and Gratitude

    Mihali Savoulidis, the lead singer and guitarist from Vermont jam-band Twiddle made a stop on his solo tour at Putnam Place earlier this month.  Playing to a sold out crowd, the energy in the room was abuzz with excitement and positivity.  Playing a combination of covers, solo originals and Twiddle songs, Mihali shared his usual charisma with the audience and this spirit and animation carried over into our conversation after the show.   We discussed collaboration, inspiration and gratitude.

    Emily VanderWiel:  A new song with Nahko and Trevor Hall just released, “Fading State.”   Can you tell me about what the creative process is like when working with them?

    Mihali:   I wrote the tune and I had them in mind, so when I recorded I literally left those places blank and hoped that they would say yes, they are both some of my very good friends.   I met Nahko first, feels like many years ago, probably 6 or 7 years ago and I met Trevor a few summers ago and it was one of those things where both times we jammed, hung out and played.  We are all born in 86, we are kind of cut from the same cloth.  A blessing for me, truly though mainly because I was a huge fan of their music before I met both.  I knew their catalogue and their writing style, and I felt connected before I knew them, and it just flowed from there.

    EV:  You are a role model for so many of your fans, both musically and personally.  How do you feel about the idea of role models, and do you have someone that you look up to?

    MS:  I don’t think so, I’ve realized that all the people I have looked up to over the years, and just in general human beings are flawed, sensitive people and no one is really, truly a role model.  Nobody is perfect, no one is the end all, be all the best person there is.

    EV: How about musically?

    MS: Well, both questions go hand in hand because I have to say when I met Trey at LOCK’n two summers ago or something, I walked up to him and said, “Hey I’m Mihali from Twiddle, and thank you for showing me that recovery is possible and that music after recovery is possible.”  Trey is just always busy, trying new things, making music and I love that about him.

    MS:   You know, the least favorite question I ever get asked is “what’s this song about.” It’s never what its “supposed to be about.”  It could be totally different than what the singer wrote it about but if it means something to that fan in their world,  I’m not going to bust their bubble and tell them that’s not what the song is about.  It’s all totally subjective.   My question is to the fan, what do you think it’s about?  Then I agree.

    EV:   I have a fan question for you.  What was the inspiration for the song Juggernaut when you wrote it and how do you feel about the fan reaction to it?

    MS:  At this time in age, and where we are right now I know the political climate is gnarly and we (Twiddle) have always stepped away from that because nobody wants to get involved with politics in music.   But when I think about my wife and my daughter and all the females in my life and the people around me that I love, and respect aren’t getting their dues, and they are not getting respected then it feels like I have to say something.  For the first time ever, well, I have always been the one in the band that’s been like No, no, no, let’s not get involved in politics.   So, I wrote it as a joke. In the studio I said “Let’s do a grunge song, Nirvana or something.  I’ll just write some chords and we will go record it.”  And Kyle, our guitar tech, he had told me a story about when he was in third grade, some kid came up while they were playing king of the kill on a sandcastle and kicked him in the face and said, “You’ll never be king of the hill!”  It was a big deal to him in third grade, and so when I was recording that first vocal “You want to kick me in the face cuz I’m different, yeah you think you’re king of the hill.”  I had recorded that verse as a joke, and we sat home for months with the demos for the album and as the political climate started changing and we started seeing what was going on, I thought that hey now that really fits.  The verses then came after that.  What can I talk about that is going on in the world?  What is bothering me, so that’s where that song came from.

    Mihali’s solo tour has been very successful and is wrapping up Dec 15 at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, MA.  Also just announced, Mihali will be joining Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Saturday January 26 at The Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY.

  • Hearing Aide: West End Blend ‘Live at the Waterhole’

    West End Blend Waterhole

    Say hey to the first live album from Connecticut funk group West End Blend, whose eight-track recording includes a blend of songs from their three previous albums, invigorated with the energy captured during their two-night run at The Waterhole in Saranac Lake.

    Captured on a studio-style soundboard engineered by the GRAMMY award winning Brendan Morawski, the recording is bright and full, bringing fans closer to the band without even setting foot in the venue.

    Overall the live tracks match the recorded versions in quality, but play out a littler longer and showcase the band’s live flair. Purposeful guitar on “Get By” leaves space for a more intense build, intensifying the plea in the song’s lyrics to make a relationship right. The track is cleverly bookended with emotive guitar instead of the layered vocals and sound effects they used on the studio version, adding weight to the song.

    Most of the songs they chose for this album deal with the uncertainties of love (“Day Dreamer” and “The Scene”) and determination and finding inner power (“All You Got” and “I’m Time”). The lyrical content relays compelling and relatable themes backed by powerful dance grooves that emphasize the message.

    There are a couple of dates to catch West End Blend before the end of the year including December 21 at Anthology, and December 22 at The Haunt. Check out their Facebook page for event details.

    Key Tracks: Get By, Day Dreamer, The Scene

  • SALTspace to host MG3’s Soulful Christmas Celebration

    MG3‘s Soulful Christmas Celebration will be held on Friday, December 21 at SALTspace in Syracuse, when Melissa Gardiner brings together an all-star band to perform funk and soul takes on your favorite Christmas classics.

    MG3 is a jazz trio with added influence from the blues, gospel, soul, neo-soul, R&B, funk, and fusion. Their diverse repertoire of original music, jazz standards and covers always focuses on a strong groove, combined with creative reharmonization and beautiful soaring melodies.

    SALTspace Trombonist and vocalist Melissa Gardiner put together her jazz trio MG3 in Harlem in 2014. Since that time, they have become an in-demand act in Upstate New York. Besides Gardiner, the trio consists of organist William Gorman and Byron “Kidd” Cage on drums.

    Together, they’ve opened up for artists such as Moonchild, Jane Monheit and Jonathan Scales, backed up artists such as Ronnie Leigh and Nancy Kelly and have played at the Rochester International Jazz Festival and most recently, won the grand prize at the Bucharest International Jazz Competition. As individuals, they’ve played with music royalty such as Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, Dave Matthews Band, Benny Golson, Ernie Watts, Joe Louis Walker and more at venues and festivals all over the world.

    They will be joined on December 21 by special guest singers Harper Sinclair, Gabrielle Gorman, Ariana Gates, Alto Phillip Young, Tenor Quinn Lawrence, Trumpeter Tom Killackey and Guitarist Stephen Pale.

    Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

  • The Cityfox Odyssey Celebrating New Year’s With 27 Hour Music Marathon

    The Cityfox Experience is pushing the envelope of nightlife productions with The Cityfox Odyssey: 27 hours of house and techno acts from 9 p.m. on Dec. 31 to midnight on Jan. 1. This New Year’s Eve festival will encompass four stages across multiple rooms at Brooklyn’s Avant Gardner and feature more than 20 world-class artists, including Andhim, Adriatique, Brian Cid, Heidi, Honey Dijon, Jamie Jones, Lee Burridge, Tale Of Us, WhoMadeWho (Hybrid Set).

    Cityfox Odyssey

    Avant Gardner will be transformed into an indoor festival space, with dazzling lights, crystalline KV2 audio sound system and visual projections. Event goers on New Year’s Eve will enjoy a special countdown to the New Year.

    Re-entry is permitted, so ticket holders can come and go throughout the 27-hour long marathon. But for those who want to stick it out, there will be food available from local vendors and an ambient lounge for taking breaks.

    Tickets for Cityfox Odyssey are selling fast for this 21+ event. For updated information, follow Cityfox Experience on Facebook.

    LINEUP:

    Adriatique
    Andhim
    Art Department
    Atish
    Brian Cid
    Culoe de Song
    Heidi
    Honey Dijon
    Jamie Jones
    Jon Charnis
    Lee Burridge
    Naveen G
    Patrice Bäumel
    Ray & Nikita
    Rissa Garcia
    SBTH
    Tale Of Us
    Tim Green
    WhoMadeWho (Hybrid Set)
    Wild Dark
    + More to be announced

  • Aqueous Announces 2019 Winter Tour

    2018 has been a tremendous year for Aqueous, hailing from Buffalo, as the groove-rock foursome has taken the nation by storm with their Color Wheel tour and the momentum will continue into 2019 with a Winter West Coast tour co-headlining with BIG Something.

    Kicking off in February, the 20-date tour will include several stops in the Midwest, a five-date run in Colorado and debut appearances in Oregon, Washington and California.

    Guitarist Dave Loss stated, “We couldn’t be more excited to head west.  The band has played Colorado several times now and it almost feels like a second home to us. We always feel so much love there. This will, however, be the band’s first venture out to the West Coast. We’ve been wanting to get out there for a long time now and we’re stoked to finally make it happen. Doing it with our good friends BIG Something just makes it that much better!”  The band will then bring their maiden voyage south for three shows in Texas before wrapping up in New Orleans.

    Tickets for the upcoming co-headlining tour are on sale this Friday, December 14 here.

  • Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Arrested on Multiple Charges

    Death metal guitarist Pat O’Brien of Cannibal Corpse was arrested after a wild series of events at his home in Northdale, FL.

    Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Arrested
    Via WFLA

    Authorities were called to O’Brien’s home after it caught fire while he was not at home. The fire set off ammunition that was inside the metal shredder’s house, adding another element of danger to the situation while firefighters battled the blaze, forcing them to retreat.

    While the house was burning, O’Brien was allegedly committing a robbery at a nearby family member’s residence. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office was dispatched to the home after a burglary call from the residence after the 53-year-old entered his relative’s home without permission and refused to leave when the owners of the home pleaded with him to go.

    O’Brien eventually left the house, but not before pushing a woman down who was at the scene before fleeing into the backyard where police found him hiding behind a nearby fence. The guitarist then ignored commands by the police and charged them with a knife, prompting the authorities to use their taser guns on him. The home owner stated that O’Brien broke into the house and talked to him about “the rapture,” and that “someone was after him.” The owner believed that O’Brien was hallucinating and even hid inside a closet in the house.

    No one was hurt during the fire or burglary, and authorities have not stated how the fire started. There were also military-style flamethrowers found in O’Brien’s home.

    O’Brien appeared in court wearing nothing but an anti-suicide vest and shackles around his hands and feet. The Hillsborough County judge hearing the case set bail at $50,000, pending passage of a court-ordered drug test.

    If convicted of both charges, O’Brien could land him some serious jail time. The burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault charge could result in a potential $10,000 fine and a possible lifetime prison sentence. The second charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer could carry a 30-year prison term. So far, no charges have been made regarding the house fire.

    Cannibal Corpse was recently announced as one of the openers for Slayer’s continuing farewell tour in spring of 2019. The band has not commented on its lead guitarist’s situation.

  • Apollo Theater Presents Holidays in Harlem Series

    The iconic Apollo Theater is ringing in the holidays with a series of spectacular performances during the Holidays in Harlem Series. The fun starts this weekend with Coca-Cola Wonderland, a free event on Saturday, December 15 from 2-6 pm, featuring local choirs, a toy-drive kickoff, and photos with Santa. This is followed by a Holiday edition of Amateur Night at 7:30 pm.

    Other events include Cynthia Erivo and Sheoshana Bean on Monday, December 17, Holiday Joy: A Gospel Celebration featuring Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Choir and CeCe Winans on Saturday, December 22, and KWANZAA CELEBRATION: REGENERATION NIGHT Featuring Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre with two performances on December 29.

    Save $3 per ticket for Holidays in Harlem Series shows when you bring a new and unused item (children’s toy, home goods, or canned good) for donation to one of our holiday shows listed above. Once you donate in the Apollo Theater Lobby, visit the Box Office to receive your discount code. Visit Apollo Theater’s website for more details.

    COCA-COLA WINTER WONDERLAND
    Saturday, December 15 | 2 PM – 6 PM
    FREE EVENTAMATEUR NIGHT: HOLIDAY SPECIAL
    Saturday, December 15 | 7:30 PMCYNTHIA ERIVO AND SHOSHANA BEAN:
    NIGHT DIVINE
    Presented by For The Record
    Monday, December 17 | 7:30 PMHOLIDAY JOY: A GOSPEL CELEBRATION
    Saturday, December 22 | 2 PM
    Featuring Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Choir
    and CeCe Winans
    Hosted by Marcus Wiley
    KWANZAA CELEBRATION: REGENERATION NIGHT
    Saturday, December 29 | 2 PM & 7:30 PM
    Featuring Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre

  • Dave Matthews Mixes Favorites and Covers in Albany

    Dave Matthews Band has been on an extensive fall tour this year, making stops all across the United States, sounding tighter than ever and brought an incredible show to the Times Union Center in Albany, NY on December 5.

    Usually, the band makes their way to the Albany area in the summer for their legendary SPAC runs in Saratoga Springs. The group opened up with “You Never Know” into “One Sweet World,” followed by “Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin).” Next, Dave Matthews and his band played crowd favorite “Everyday” followed by a cover of Aerosmiths’ “Sweet Emotion.”

    dave matthews albanyThe night was filled with crowd pleasers and hits like “Where Are You Going,” “Don’t Drink The Water” and of course “What Would You Say.” The Dave Matthews Band ended the night with a two-song encore featuring “Granny” and the Bob Dylan cover “All Along the Watchtower.” The group continues their tour through December 28 when they close in Miami, FL. Check out photos from their Albany performance below provided by Vinny Otto:

    Setlist: You Never Know, One Sweet World, Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin), Everyday, Sweet Emotion (Aerosmith cover), Minarets, Where Are You Going, Burning Down the House (Talking Heads cover), Crush, Kill the King, What Would You Say, Here on Out, Don’t Drink The Water, Dancing Nancies, Come On Come On, Grey Street, She, You Might Die Trying

    Encore: Granny, All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover)

  • Rubblebucket Shows Buffalo Some Love

    Rubblebucket‘s sound may be hard to pin down with influences spanning the umbrella of pop but Talking Heads for the modern age gets you close.

    Of course the best way to experience such a sonic celebration is in concert and a celebration is just what happened on a cold winter night on December 5 at Buffalo’s Babeville.

    Horns blared, polyrhythms took hold, lines between stage and crowd blurred while dance parties sprang to life.

  • Hearing Aide: Jackson Cavalier ‘Spellbound’

    Jackson Cavalier is well-known in his hometown of Rochester as a solo act. As a one-man band he has won the city’s Best Busker contest year after year. With guitar in hand and harmonica at the ready, he keeps time with his toes tapping at the tambourine and a rustic suitcase bass drum. His first solo LP entitled Full Moon sounds a lot like his live act, but with a few extra touches. Now, within a span of less than a year, Cavalier has released his second full-length solo album, Spellbound.

    Like the black and white labyrinthine album art, the music at first seems deceptively simple. It soon becomes apparent to the listener that the songs are comprised of multiple layers of acoustic texture and lyrical meaning. Spellbound comes out of the gate at a full gallop with the title track, an acoustic song heavy on guitar and harmonica. The Southwest-inspired finger-picked tune sets the tone for a bewitching tale about trying to avoid a spell, but finding it’s too late. The shanty sets the tone for the entire 12-track album, which shares the common theme of being enchanted – whether by love, death, or even time itself.  

    Cavalier uses the medium of Indie Folk Rock to take listeners on a journey through an anthology of timeless tales. “Mt. Hope Blues” is set in the hills of Rochester’s Victorian cemetery, and told from the perspective of a ghost watching his beloved pick wildflowers for his grave. The boot-stomping song “Sister Prim” tells a story of revenge by a woman scorned. “Razor Wire Death Song,” the one single pre-released before the album, is perhaps the most poetic: “I see the reaper grim and tall / scythe and cloak and horse and all. / He’s not a specter on a hill to be feared, / he’s standing right in front of me beside this mirror.” Later in the album Cavalier reels it way back for the sparse and sentimental ballad “Ribbons.”

    Whereas Cavalier’s earlier original songs with his full band The Fevertones had a more traditional Americana folk styling, with accompaniment by violin and upright bass, his sound has evolved into a distinctive style of folk rock with country flair. The songs on Spellbound have a rich, full quality, in part from the addition of Thomas Draper on bass guitar and Joey Small on drum kit & auxiliary percussion. The tunes are accentuated by a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) sprinkling of melodica and Glockenspiel.

    The harmonious pairing of the music and storytelling has a mesmerizing effect. The result of Cavalier’s adept musicianship is a work that has come by its name honestly, as it truly leaves the listener spellbound.

    Spellbound is available for purchase on Bandcamp or streaming on Spotify. Follow Jackson Cavalier Music on Facebook for the latest news and events.

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