NYS Music 20​18

Category: Pop

  • Hear Boy Jr.’s Spunky New Single “Anyway”

    If there’s anything I’ve learned about Boy Jr., it’s to expect the unexpected. Rochester native Erica Lubman has been experimenting with music since childhood, combining her love for garage rock and indie pop with a flair for dramatic fashion. She’s equally likely to turn up on stage in a retro matching tracksuit as a leather skirt and torn T-shirt. As with her wardrobe, she shows off a wide range of songs in her repertoire – from punk to grunge. 

    Boy Jr.’s latest release “Anyway” shows her ability to continue to stretch and grow in innovative ways. “Anyway” pairs guitar-driven rock with spunky girl power (think Cage The Elephant meets Caroline Rose). Give it a spin! 

    Go to Spotify to hear more by Boy Jr. and follow on Facebook for upcoming shows. 

  • 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.

  • Pop-Fest 518 Showcases Original Local Talent

    Pop-Fest 518 takes place at The Linda on Saturday, Dec 1 from 7-10 pm. Featured in this evening of eclectic musicians are Blockhouses, Sydney Worthley, Pop-Clique, Sarah Kohrs & Coyote, and Daniel Conley. While students can get a $10 ticket at the door with ID, all-ages $15 tickets can be purchased through The Linda’s Pop Fest 518 event page. This one-night show not only showcases original work by performers native to the 518 area, but admission goes towards the upstate arts community fostered by the Columbia Arts Team.

    Blockhouses

    The pop trio Blockhouses will groove the audience followed by festival-seasoned, 16 year old Sydney Worthley, who takes the stage to build on that energy with her country/rock infused lyrics. Expect a blast to the past as the internationally recognized Pop-Clique takes concert-goers back with a ’60s flavored vibe. A new face joins the stage with them as notorious singer/songwriter Liv Cummins makes her Pop-Clique debut on Dec. 1 at Pop-Fest 518.

    The mood changes yet again as Sarah Kohrs & Coyote deliver their take on blues and jazz; the influence of iconic female vocalists Joni Mitchell and Amy Winehouse comes through in Sara Kohrs’s performance. To cap of a great night of 518 artists, Daniel Conley has a large body of work to pull his Americana offerings from as he has launched two albums in the last year.

    The Columbia Arts Team is a non-profit performing arts company that promotes local arts efforts and has partnered with The Linda to make this performance possible. The Linda is committed to growing the arts in New York as it serves as the performing arts studio for Albany-based public broadcast radio station WAMC. There is growing community interest in the cultivation of original, local, musical talent. Pop-Fest 518 gives these unique voices a stage where they can truly shine.

    There aren’t a lot of options for purely original local artists to perform in a concert format…This is music that belongs in a ‘listening’ venue, not a bar. This is music that needs to be heard.

    – Andy Gregory, WEXT Radio’s Local 518 program host.

  • Ariana Grande Begins Her Sweetener World Tour in Albany

    Singer-songwriter Ariana Grande will return to the Capital Region for the first time since her Honeymoon Avenue World Tour in 2015, and kicks off her 4th World Tour, featuring her new album Sweetener, at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY on March 18, 2019. Ticket pre-sale for the Sweetener World Tour begins November 1st through November 3rd via American Express.

    The pop princess revealed on Wednesday October 24 via Twitter that she would soon announce the world tour dates for her latest album, released in August earlier this year. Not one to disappoint, the next day Grande shared her initial U.S. performances on arianagrande.com as well as posting them on her Twitter. The singer has promised that fans abroad can expect international tour dates to be announced.

    Former Victorious actress is also planning on making three other appearances in New York during the course of her tour, one in Western NY followed up by hitting two major performance venues in NYC. Falling soon after her Albany concert, Grande’s third Sweetener performance brings her to the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY on March 22, 2019. The last two dates announced for the U.S.-portion of the Sweetener tour are June 14 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the famous Madison Square Garden on June 18, 2019.

    All other U.S. tour dates are listed below

  • 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!

  • Younger Then Performs to Hometown Crowd for Album Release

    Younger Than perform in Hometown at Buffalo Iron Works

    Autumn has finally put summer to rest in Buffalo. The trees are a muted mixture of red, orange, and yellow and the air is crisp as you walk into Buffalo Iron Works. A crowd of excited attendees awaited Buffalo local indie-rock group Younger Then to take the stage in the wake of the release of their most recent album, Bad Life. Younger Then traveled out to Nashville to record at Blackbird Studio, a world-class establishment with a reputation for recording some of the world’s best rock groups. It had been a long time coming, and fans were prepped and ready to go, with about half the house already filled by 8pm to catch the opening acts.

    Buffalo has such a deep collection of indie bands. Supporting the night were Cooler and Feverbox. Cooler has been making noise lately as they continue to play their monthly Wednesday night residency at Mr. Goodbar in Buffalo. Feverbox has been frequenting regional festivals and running the gamut of local venues. Both bands put on exciting sets, with music totally in line with what the crowd had come for. The bill was crafted to great effect, giving the entire flow of performances a nice consistency. Cooler’s emo stylings pull from the early pop-emo greats from the 2000’s, while also hearkening to the kind of alt-driven Midwestern emo that offers a bit more grit. Feverbox checked all the boxes for an on-the-rise indie rock group. The band had good stage presence and original tunes, putting on the kind of set one would expect to see at a SXSW showcase.

    The support set the scene for veteran group Younger Then to take the stage. The venue was packed in, with people opting to stay indoors for the entire set as opposed to standing on the patio- an effect of the brisk fall temperatures. Iron Works was on-point with the light shows as always. The mix of subtle fog painted by combinations of colors set the scene for the band to walk onstage to a big welcome cheer from their supporters. While the cold was effective in forcing people inside, Younger Then’s performance was more than encapsulating to keep people inside. The group played selections from their older discography, and mixed them in with live versions of tunes from their new release, Bad Life.

    The group had great stage presence, only amplified by the playfulness of the lights. Guitarist Austin Dorr was a ham on the stage, stepping up to meet fans near the stage barrier as he walked up in front of the stage monitors during his solo parts. Zack Dupuis voiced his and the band’s gratitude for the support, and eventually organized the crowd to sing the chorus of one of their new songs. The audience responded in kind, singing full voiced back to the band. Drums and bass were on point, with a tight sync between the two accentuated by the thick live mix at the venue. Michael Wirth held down rhythm guitar, playing around with timbre to liven or darken the mood of a given song.

    Younger Than performs‘Bad Life’ itself was a very pristine listen (review here), while the live performance was a lot grittier. As a result of the mix, Younger Then’s music had a slightly harder edge live than the recordings. The raw feel of the performance was a good contrast and comparison to their studio work. The group provides two different feeling experiences with the recorded album compared to their live set. The group also had a good feel for what the audience was hearing, each member laying back or coming forward appropriately for the best live-sound effect. No one overshadowed or stole the show. Younger Then had great chemistry between the members and the audience. In a successful night, Younger Then released their newest album, Bad Life and put on a great show for music fans in Buffalo.

  • Tough Guys: Caroline Jones is Unapologetically Here to Shine

    Remember this name: Caroline Jones. The 28-year-old country singer and songwriter released her first album, Bare Feet, in March 2018, and has had an outstandingly remarkable concert season opening for country successes Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffett, and Zac Brown.

    Caroline Jones

    NYS Music caught up with Caroline Jones after she opened for the Zac Brown Band at Saratoga Springs September 29, 2018.  Jones’ performance demonstrated great versatility in her 20 minutes on stage.  Mashing up John Denver’s melodies with her own,  covering Coldplay’s “Fix You,” and even singing her original songs “Bare Feet” and “Tough Guys,” Jones sounded a lot like a female Zac Brown. She even pulled out the harmonica on the last song, unapologetic of her flexibility. She can sing, play guitar and harp, and even writes music.

    Jones was unassuming as she sang on a stage washed in blue-violet light. Her petite frame was relaxed as her arched her voice over two octaves. She walked around the stage, dancing and singing about wanting a man to call her baby, and alternatively, telling people it’s tough if they don’t accept her as she is. Her voice training in opera shone through as she managed challenging transitions with ease.

    After the performance, she graciously met fans at a meet and greet where she authentically appeared both relaxed and interested in each fan’s words. Smiling for the camera and chatting about fans’ love of her music, Jones was right at home during the meet and greet.

    During the interview, Jones revealed her interest in country and pop music started young, at age nine, when she began vocal lessons with a teacher who specialized in jazz and opera. The teacher was her primary coach for many years, eventually guiding her to NYU to study opera. But her love of country was organic to her; she never lost it, and has found her way back to writing her popular tunes.

    Jones offered that her parents, featured in the autobiographical song “County Girl,” were from different backgrounds. Jones shared her father is southern, and wanted her to stay connected to her southern values, including humility and a love of nature.  She excitedly shared she enjoyed walking the grounds of SPAC earlier in the day and had found a babbling brook and the sunlight filtering through the trees. She admitted she often writes her best music in nature.

    When asked about her future, Jones confidently sees herself still writing music in ten years and growing as an artist and woman. She hopes to continue to put out the type of music that communicates her values and connection to nature and womanhood, as she has done so well this year.

    Jones had a sea of plaid flannel fans swaying and singing with her during her versatile twenty minutes on stage. Later in the night, she got the nod of approval from Zac himself as they played guitar together.

    Remember the name, Caroline Jones. She is quite possibly the biggest name about to burst onto the country scene this year.

  • Hearing Aide: Roan Yellowthorn ‘Indigo’

    The color indigo is unique in pigment, featuring hues of inspiration across the color spectrum, while staying true to a rather dark disposition. Such is the feeling of the album released by indie pop songwriting pair Roan Yellowthorn, titled Indigo in its own right. You may recognize the last name of the band’s lyricist and lead singer, Jackie McLean, from her father, the great songwriter Don McLean. Following slowly in his footsteps, McLean and production partner Shawn Strack release their debut album with no outside assistance, honing in on their personal vulnerability and growth as songwriters.

    Roan Yellowthorn Indigo

    Supporting McLean’s buzzing vocal lines are a variety of instruments, including soothing piano lines, cranked guitar chords, and interesting choices of auxiliary percussion. The title track of the album is a clear example of this, switching from a soft section to a more abrasive rock interlude, with words of inner crisis to round it out. The duo also released a pulsing preview to the album with the single release of “Talk About It” earlier in August, with a unique video to go along with it. While this song may lead you to believe this album is dance-oriented, it surely isn’t. There are energetic surprises, but the album is about reflection, so the somber tone is an overarching theme of the album.

    The soft guitar strumming of “How Are You” to combat the forceful piano chords creates an inner conflict, a true testament to the band’s ‘indigo’. Arguably the best song on the 10-track album, entitled “Mark My Words”, is slightly out of place from the rest of the album, and ultimately sounds like a sweet serenade of inner despair. Being only about a minute and a half in length, McLean’s voice is filtered with some kind of EQ, giving off the sound of a voice through an old radio, to match the abrasive chords and feedback that resonate behind her.

    All in all, this first crack at audio production for Stack is above adequate, only to improve with the genres of music they tap into in future albums. As this group develops their style, the lyrics will follow, a musical choice that contrasts them at this moment. The group has a series of vignettes to inspire their lyrical creativity, and with some more work to strengthen the backbone of their sound, Roan Yellowthorn is sure to become a beloved duo in the indie pop sphere.

    Don’t forget to follow Roan Yellowthorn on her journey via her website and Facebook page. They’ll also be playing a show at the Bitter End in NYC on October 20th in celebration of their new release, Indigo.

    Key Tracks: Talk About It, Mark My Words

  • Repetitive but Never Boring: Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band Cover Old Favorites

    Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band brought a bit of nostalgia to Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 14, covering 25 well known songs from the ’80s and ’90s. On a stage decked out with a large drape screen-printed with a peace sign, sunflowers, and stars, the former Beatle, Sir Richard Starkey, Jr., brought together an eclectic group of performers. On stage with Ringo in the group were Colin Hay of Men at Work, Steve Lukather of Toto, Gregg Rolie of Santana, and newest member Graham Gouldman of 10cc. Percussion and sax featured Warren Ham, with Gregg Bissonette focused on drums..

    Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band

    Starr bounced out to the stage after everyone else, smiling and singing, echoing back to folks who offered “I love you” praise with “I love you too!” Flashing peace signs and telling jokes that had a canned, somewhat repetitive rhythm, Starr’s fans smiled and seemed to honor his worn humor kindly with the knowledge of a well-seasoned audience. This was Ringo Starr, after all, one of two still living former Beatles. He has earned the right to be silly and predictable. Starr, meanwhile, enjoyed himself tremendously, laughing at jokes tricking the audience and playfully engaging fans with silliness.

    The group rotated through their best-known hits from each ensemble they were known for previous performances in, lending a sort of cover band feeling to the night. From “It Don’t Come Easy” to “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Land Down Under” and “Africa,” the music had a familiar bounce and four count. Fans had to wait for the third song to get a Beatles tune; Starr recalled that piece, “What Goes On,” was co-written by Lennon, McCartney, and Starr – and he lamented playfully that he knew the audience believed as he did that he should’ve had top billing on the authorship.

    Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band

    Later, when “Yellow Submarine” started, fans howled their approval. This was, after all, why many spent their Friday night at the Spa City venue. Ending “A Little Help From My Friends” with Lennon and Yoko’s “Give Peace a Chance” mixed in, Ringo’s message about peace and love being “the only way” rang out throughout the park.

    The audience members, mainly an over 50 set who appeared to adore Ringo as much today as they did when they were in their teens, had already bought that message years ago. But they sang along, swaying in the moment with the peace of their earlier days. The audience even flashed the peace signs back to Sir Ringo.

    Ringo Starr and his All Starr band were somewhat predictable in their song choices and repetitive rhythm and vibe. But people didn’t come to hear new music, as much as to remember old favorites. Watching the 78 year-old former Beatle flash peace signs and cue folks to believe in peace and love was oddly reassuring though on this cool night in Saratoga. We need repetition sometimes, to remind us that the simplest messages are often the truest. Be kind. Give peace a chance. Smile more. Just like Ringo and his friends.

  • Massaoke Transforms Parcel 5 Into Sing-Along Dance Party at Rochester Fringe

    KeyBank Rochester Fringe has brought the band Massaoke from the UK for the US debut. The sensation of the international festival circuit brings the karaoke experience to the masses – complete with live band, on-screen lyrics, and audience participation.

    Downtown Rochester comes to life during Fringe: people are out and about and there’s something to do or see on every street corner. But the main stage is at Parcel 5, part of the former site of Midtown Plaza on East Main Street. Thanks to a recent vote, parking is still free at meters on weekday evenings. But with record-breaking attendances every year, it was no surprise that I couldn’t find a spot on the street and had to use one of several garages within walking distance.

    When I arrived on site Friday night, the party was in full-swing, with an audience of thousands between the stage and the lights of the Liberty Pole singing along to “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus. While I’m not comfortable standing on stage to sing karaoke, I was quickly swept up in the excitement of the experience. I found myself setting down my camera and notebook several times to sing and dance along with the people beside me to favorites like Blink 182’s “All The Small Things” and The Village People’s “YMCA.”

    Massaoke led the audience in some themed medleys, some specific to decades or genres like 80’s or disco. They also did a really fun guys versus girls sing-off with songs from Grease. In traditional karaoke, people can choose songs. Massaoke replicates this through having the audience vote by volume (for example, Blink 182 beat out Backstreet Boys on this night). They also have an app where fans can vote in polls, request songs, or ask for a shout-out.

    For those who missed last night’s performance, there’s an encore tonight at 8:30pm. It will be the last chance to see Massaoke before they head back across the Atlantic.

    Parcel 5 is where the food trucks are stationed, so if you don’t need to go far to grab a quick bite. Organizers have cordoned off an area where people can bring their own lawn chairs for the shows. There are also stadium-style risers to the side for those who opt not to bring their own chair.

    All tuckered out from the show, I popped over to the Spiegelgarden at the corner of Main and Gibbs. The “pop-up urban lounge” is a great place to relax and enjoy refreshments. This is where you’ll find the Immersive Igloo, the Cirque Du Fringe, and the Silent Disco. But it’s also a place to relax between the 500+ events that occur during the 11 days Rochester Fringe. Grab some refreshments, then rally some friends for a game of cornhole, dominoes or connect four. Or pick up a pair of headphones and flop on a beanbag to enjoy the pedestrian drive-in – just like a drive-in but without the cars! While you’re there, pick up some Rochester Fringe merchandise, pick up tickets at the box office, or just chat with the Fringe volunteers about upcoming events.

    Check out the NYS Music preview of some of the music shows this weekend, and head over to the official rochesterfringe.com website to search for events by type, day, and/or venue. Rochester Fringe runs through Saturday, September 22. Stay tuned to NYS Music for more coverage and next week’s preview.