Category: News Desk

  • Cold Lazarus Warms Up Western New York

    Jamestown, NY only holds a population of just over 30,000.  Yet, the small town, just a few miles from the Pennsylvania border, is most notably home to Lucille Ball and the 10, 000 Maniacs. The Jamestown music scene is on the rise, as Cold Lazarus, one of Western New York’s premier up and coming bands, has been catching eyes and ears with their unique brand of progressive/jam fusion.  As the winter weather begins to warm up this weekend, Cold Lazarus is hitting the road to showcase their first full length release, the self-titled studio album Cold Lazarus.

    Cold Lazarus will kick off the weekend on Friday in Westfield with a free show at the Tap Room.  You can also catch the band as they open in support of Rochester-based Haewa in Jamestown on Saturday at Mojo’s. Buffalo music fans can catch the band on Sunday as they open in support of Mungion at Buffalo Iron Works.

    The four- piece melds funk, psychedelic rock, reggae and soul with indie-style vocals and introspective lyrics. And it’s a formula that has quickly launched Cold Lazarus into the Western New York music scene.

    Cold Lazarus bassist Gavin Paterniti told NYS Music that the band’s musical formula comes from a place of being a musician’s band. “Our influences are quite varied, but we never set out to sound like any one artist or band that we enjoy listening to,” Paterniti noted. “We sort of pull from all those influences and combine them into an amalgam of funk, reggae, rock and jam-centric songs.”

    Cold Lazarus strikes a delicate balance between musicianship and entertainment. “We like to give our listeners and audience members something they can groove to while simultaneously challenging us as we play it, so we incorporate some progressive themes but try to keep it accessible, so we don’t lose our audience who are feeling the groove.”

    Celebrating the release of their first studio release, Cold Lazarus is also expanding their reach as artists in 2018.  The band will be debuting in Rochester this March with Buffalo’s Space Junk.  And they also landed a Buffalo support date with Aqueous side project Boss Tweed and the Carpetbaggers. Paterniti explains that although headlining dates is important for building a reputation, the support dates allow Cold Lazarus to gain new fans.

    “Right now, we’re still putting a big premium on exposure,” he said. “In comparison to many of these more established bands, we’re still kind of in our infancy stage, despite the fact that we’ve got about 2 albums’ worth of material and we’ve already managed to secure some very coveted festival spots in under a year and a half. We just want to get some recognition out there and for more people to hear us.”

    And while the exposure to new fans is the goal, Paterniti also sees the value in playing with some of the scene’s favorite touring artists. “It’s always great to be able to make contacts with some of these other bands who are blowing up the scene,” he explained, “You never know when those kinds of connections might be able to benefit you again down the road.”

    The band has already enjoyed an appearance at last summer’s Night Lights Music Festival and landed slots at this summer’s Gathering at Chaffee’s in Erie and The Great Blue Heron Music Festival. And while the band is staying tight-lipped about the rest of their summer plans, Paterniti noted that you’ll probably be seeing more of the Cold Lazarus name throughout the summer. “This summer is shaping up to be a great one for us, and I think it’s going to do wonders for us as a band moving forward,” he surmised. “We’ll also be making a couple of other area festival appearances, but those lineups have yet to be announced. We’re very excited about how things are progressing for our summer performance schedule.”

    Cold Lazarus hits various venues around Western New York throughout the spring.  Catch them at one of their upcoming Western New York shows. Also, check out the band’s album Cold Lazarus, available on Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp and other major streaming services.

    Cold Lazarus

    2/23 – Westfield, NY – The Tap Room

    2/24 – Jamestown, NY – Mojo’s#

    2/25 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works*

    3/9 – Erie, PA – Kings Rook Club $

    3/10 – Buffalo, NY – Nietzsche’s %

    5/19 – Rochester, NY – Funk n Waffles

    7/28 – Gathering at Chaffee’s

    #- support for Haewa

    *- support for Mungion

    % – support for Boss Tweed and the Carpetbaggers

    $ – support for Space Junk

  • Musicians Call on Congress to Fix Copyright Loophole

    A law requiring companies to pay artists royalties for their music recorded prior to Feb. 15, 1972 is in the works. Currently, musicians who recorded music before that date are not being paid for their work — ever since Congress passed the Copyright Act of 1976.

    Momentum is growing for calls to Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act. A group of 213 musicians, along with eight music organizations, came forward recently to address the copyright loophole.

    Abdul “Duke” Fakir brought more progress to the issue in an opinion piece he wrote for The Washington Post in December 2017. A founding member of the Motown group, the Four Tops, Fakir explains how digital streams make up half of all business revenue and that the companies pay royalties to artists to play their music. But these same companies do not have to pay artists who recorded before the February 1972 date.

    Fakir feels for these older artists as well in that they are not being treated fairly and are not as well off as people who had sturdier careers.

    “Yet artists who recorded those classics — many of whom are no longer able to tour — struggle for basic food, shelter and medical care,” Fakir writes in his op-ed column. “It’s ridiculous, it’s unfair, and it’s about time we make it illegal.”

    Together, the musicians and organizations released an advertisement that stated:

    Digital radio makes billions of dollars a year from airplay of music made before Feb. 15, 1972. Yet, because of an ambiguity in state and federal copyright laws, artists and copyright owners who created that music receive nothing for the use of their work. The CLASSICS Act (H.R. 3301 / S. 2393) would correct this inequity and finally ensure that musicians and vocalists who made those timeless songs finally get their due. We urge Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act and other pro-artist reforms quickly.

    This has been brought up as an issue today with the profits of online radio companies soaring. Companies like Sirius/XM, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and more have all been more profitable with the expansion of technology.

    According to a press release, supporters of the CLASSICS Act anticipate the House Judiciary Committee will resolve this loophole by consolidating the key reforms into a single bill.

  • moe. to wrap up February run at Palace Theatre in Albany

    After selling out the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester at the beginning of February, and delivering two smoking shows in bass player Rob Derhak’s hometown of Portland, Maine, moe are slated to play their first Palace Theatre shows since their 2015 New Year’s run. moe. has a storied history of playing in Albany, and were a staple of the underground jam scene while the band was in their formative years. Their presence in Albany in the mid-90’s was instrumental to their rise to success. They performed alongside other New York staples such as Moon Boot Lover and The Ominous Seapods as they steadily grew in popularity. Listen to one of their early Albany recordings at Valentine’s here.

    In 2013, 2014, and 2015, moe. played the Palace for a two-night New Year’s Run, with collaborations with ska band Conehead Buddha, full acoustic sets, and supporting acts such as Twiddle and Kung Fu. They broke with this tradition in 2016, instead opting for a destination show in Missoula, Montana and were unable to perform a New Years concert in 2017 in light of their hiatus. These upcoming Palace shows mark their fifth and sixth shows back since bassist and vocalist Rob Derhak’s return to health and to the stage.

    On February 23rd, moe. will be supported by fellow Buffalo rockers and proteges, Aqueous. After the Palace festivities, fans should migrate to The Hollow on Pearl Street in downtown Albany, for Floodwood, featuring moe.’s own Vinnie Amico, and Space Carnival. February 24th’s after party will feature Electric Beethoven and Scott Hannay Plays Video Games, a side-project from the front-man of Albany’s Mister F. Furthermore, if any moe.rons are feeling particularly thirsty Friday afternoon, The Hollow will be hosting a happy hour party from 5 to 7 before the show. There will be drink specials to enjoy and a free raffle, in which a lucky .ron can win a two-night VIP Okayalright package. Fans can purchase tickets for the Hollow aftershows here.

    If the first four shows of the tour were any indicator, Rob is happy and in good health, his voice sounds fantastic, and the boys are ready for some innovative, exploratory jams. There are still some heavy hitters on the table, and moe. has seemed to be reconstructing some of their classics and introducing several debuts this tour, so these shows are not to be missed, for fans hardcore or casual.

  • Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare to Host First Rock for Recovery Benefit

    The Black River will headline a March 9 benefit for Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare at the Palace Theater on James Street. The event features a who’s who of the burgeoning Syracuse music scene while raising funds for SBH programming for substance abuse recovery and mental health care.

    The unique showcase will feature performances from some of the best talent in the Syracuse rock scene. In addition to the Black River, performers include Atkins Riot, Late Earth, Molina and Climbing Stars. The show will be also have an infusion of stories of recovery from the effects of substance abuse, mental illness and other health issues. On-air personality, Scott Dixon (DXN) of 95X will be the event’s emcee.

    The March 9 show begins at 7 p.m. Advanced sale tickets can be purchased for $10 through the SBH website. Tickets at the door will cost $15. All proceeds from the event will go towards promoting SBH programming for recovery from the effects of substance use and mental health disorders through healthcare programs at every stage of the recovery process.

    The Black River, one of the hottest bands in the Syracuse scene, recently released its debut album Classic Universe and is currently playing shows throughout Upstate. Their album is available on all streaming services. A live video of the Black River’s “Roomful of Flies” can be seen below.

    Alt-rockers Atkins Riot features veteran members of the Syracuse music scene. Their riff-heavy eponymous debut is picking up steam around the Syracuse scene and can be purchased at their shows. You can check out a couple of their songs via SoundCloud below.

    https://soundcloud.com/user-257333986/too-much-whisky

    Late Earth has been nominated for a Syracuse Area Music Award for their album The Prevail. This young band’s album is an original sounding, genre-spanning work with influences ranging from ’90s alt-rock to blues to ska to reggae. Check out some tracks and purchase the SAMMY nominated album through their BandCamp page.

    Binghamton-area alt-rockers, Molina released their debut EP, Swing Devotion in 2015. Their single for “Wasted Years” boasts a heavy influence from The National and Interpol. Take a listen in their official video below.

    Climbing Stars recently recorded a “Live @ SubCat” session for 105.9 The Rebel’s weekly show, “Soundcheck.” The band’s bio states that they “pick up where grunge left off.” They are currently in the studio recording their debut album. In the meantime, you can hear the single “Angel From Afar” on their BandCamp page.

    Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare (SBH) promotes recovery from the effects of substance use and mental health disorders through healthcare programs at every stage of the recovery process through inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation as well as residential rehabilitation. In the past year, SBH programs have helped 6871 people in the Central New York area. For more information on Rock for Recovery and the services SBH provides, visit their website here.

  • Trampled by Turtles Return from Hiatus with ‘Life is Good on the Open Road’

    Trampled By Turtles, coming off an indefinite hiatus, have announced their first new album in four years, Life is Good on the Open Road, to be released on May 4 with two shows at The Palace Theater in St. Paul, MN. The tour swings east and arrives at Manhattan’s Playstation Theater on May 11.

    Life Is Good On The Open Road

    Trampled By Turtles’ signature blend of rock, folk, punk, country and their brand of progressive bluegrass can be heard on the album’s opening track “Kelly’s Bar”

    Life is Good on the Open Road is the welcome return that the group’s legions of passionate fans have been waiting for. Led by the songwriting of lead singer Dave Simonett, the new songs touch on key elements from the entire spectrum of Trampled By Turtles body of work, while creating something that sounds fresh and invigorated. Simonett, and bandmates Erik Berry, Ryan Young, Dave Carroll, Tim Saxhaug and Eamonn McLain reunited at a cabin in the Minnesota woods to see if the special chemistry they once shared still existed. It did not take long for the magic to reveal itself with a renewed sense of purpose and the result shines brightly on Life is Good on the Open Road.

    Trampled by Turtles Spring Tour Dates:

    May 4 – St. Paul, MN – The Palace Theatre ^^
    May 5 – St. Paul, MN – The Palace Theatre ++
    May 6 – Madison, WI – Capitol Theater $$
    May 8 – Boston, MA – House of Blues **
    May 9 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer **
    May 11 – New York, NY – Playstation Theater **
    May 12+13 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club **
    May 15 – Raleigh, NC – Ritz **
    May 17 – Asheville, NC – Highland Brewing Company **
    May 18 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium **
    May 19+20 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall ##
    June 21 – Tahoe, NV – Montbleau @@
    June 22 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre @@
    June 23 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay @@
    June 27 – Seattle, WA – Woodland Park Zoo @@
    June 29 – Portland, OR – Oregon Zoo Amphitheater @@
    June 30 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom @@
    July 19 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre &&
    July 21 – Missoula, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater XX
    July 22 – Bozeman, MT – Bridger Brewing XX

    More to come

    ^^ – The Pines
    ++ – Frankie Lee
    $$ – Dead Horses
    ** – Hiss Golden Messenger
    ## – Actual Wolf
    @@ – Deer Tick
    && – The Oh Hellos + Dead Horses
    XX – The Lil Smokies

  • Disc Jam Music Festival announces 2018 Lineup

    Disc Jam Music Festival announced today the initial lineup for the 8th installment of the annual music festival held in Stephentown, NY. Slated for June 7-10, the music-filled weekend promises over 80 artists, along with Disc Golf Tournaments, Flow Tribe dancers, craft vending, yoga workshops and much more.

    The 2018 artist lineup includes a heavy dose of national and regional funk and jam artists, in addition to collaboratives and side projects, including unique pairings only found at the festival. Headliners include Lotus, Beats Antique, Galactic, The Motet, Electron (feat. members of Lotus and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), Disco Biscuits guitarist Jon ‘The Barber’ Gutwillig (solo acoustic set), DJ Logic and Friends (feat. members of The Disco Biscuits, Dopapod and Turkuaz), Gubbulidis (Twiddle side project), Kung Fu, Moon Hooch, Aqueous, Ghost Note (Snarky Puppy side project) Tom Marshall’s Amfibian All-Stars, Ghost Light (Tom Hamilton and Holly Bowling project), among more than 80 artists performing on 4 stages over 4 days of camping at the picturesque Gardner’s Farm.

    “I spent the entire off-season trying to come up with a festival experience that could one-up the magic we conjured up last year. I think what we have in store will set the bar high for next year. And I’m already nervous thinking how we’ll top this in 2019.” In their 4th consecutive year at Gardner’s Farm, Disc Jam has found a venue that feels like home.  “I truly believe that we have been blessed with the perfect festival grounds, surrounded by rolling hills with picturesque views and soft grass beneath our feet.”

    As the name Disc Jam would imply, this 4 day and night event features the fast growing sport of disc golf and festival grounds hold a 27-hole disc golf course on site. Disc Golf Tournaments for men and women are held throughout the weekend, with prizes from Innova and Pure Flight Disc Golf. The annual tournament is a must for Disc Golf enthusiasts and encourages the casual and first timer players to try their hand on the course all weekend long with no additional costs to play and even provide discs free of charge for those interested in trying their hand at the course.

    VIP packages include hotel and condo style rooms at the beautiful Jiminy Peak Ski resort just 5 minutes from the venue. A variety of activities and workshops are a big attraction for Disc Jam, including flow art workshops, daily yoga sessions, interactive music and art amidst the festival grounds, plus craft and art vending that help make Disc Jam create a unique and memorable experience for both new and returning fans.

    Music can be found on twin Main stages, ensuring nonstop music well into the night along with the massive Tent stage and Woods stage, the latter of which features nightly takeovers from some of the top names in bass and house music, with The Wook of Wall Street hosting a Silent Disco Party lasting until sunrise.

    Check out our review of Disc Jam 2017, Watch the 2017 Disc Jam Recap video and check out the lineup below!

    Disc Jam 2018 Music Festival Initial Lineup

    Lotus
    Beats Antique
    Galactic
    The Motet
    Electron
    Jon ‘The Barber’ Gutwillig (Acoustic Set)
    DJ Logic and Friends (feat. members of The Disco Biscuits, Dopapod and Turkuaz)
    Gubbulidis
    Kung Fu
    Moon Hooch
    Aqueous
    Tom Marshall’s Amfibian All-Stars
    Ghost Light
    Jo Jo Mayer / Nerve
    Ghost-Note
    Consider The Source
    The Nth Power
    Yes Darling
    Wolf!
    Soule Monde
    The TAZ Band
    Bella’s Bartok
    Marbin
    Compa/Gantzer
    Ryan Dempsey Solo
    Big Mean Sound Machine
    West End Blend
    Dub Apocalypse
    The Funky Dawgs Brass Band
    Strange Machines
    Space Bacon
    Escaper
    G-Nome Project
    The A Beez
    Root Shock
    Bearly Dead Formula 5
    Goose
    Shwizz
    Funktional Flow
    Mammal Dap
    Floodwood
    Blind Owl Band
    Swimmer
    Of Clocks and Clouds
    Cousin Earth
    Space Carnival Of Tomorrow
    Harsh Armadillo
    Fake Flowers Real Dirt
    The Clock Reads
    The Wiley Griffin Band
    The Mushroom Cloud
    Catullus
    Lord Electro
    Dizgo
    Dewpoint
    Let’s Be Leonard
    Cypher

  • Nietzsche’s Fourth Annual Herbie Hancock Tribute Celebration

    This Thursday, Nietzsche’s will present its fourth annual Herbie Hancock Tribute Night, a tradition that honors the diverse catalog of one of America’s most prolific composers. Featuring a collection of some of Buffalo’s best musicians, the show runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with performances by The Alex McArthur/Jon Lehning Sextet and The TRUTH Travelers, a group comprised of members from both THE TRUTH and Intrepid Travelers. Both bands will be playing two sets, alternating between the front bar area and the main stage.herbie hancock tribute

    The Alex McArthur/Jon Lehning Sextet is Alex McArthur on vocals, Jon Leaning on saxophones, Harry Graser on piano/keyboards, Adam Bronstein on guitar, Anthony Henry on bass, and Ryan Cavan on Drums, while The TRUTH Travelers boast Ellen Pieroni on saxophones/flute, Donny Frauenhofer on piano/keyboards, Brian Calisto and Adam Bronstein on guitars, Sam Pavolich on bass, and Jon Fohl and Ryan Campbell on drums and percussion.

    Herbie Hancock Tribute Night is $5 at the door and all guests must be 21 and older unless accompanied by a parent.

  • Hudson Taylor Release New Acoustic Single and Video ‘Run with Me’

    Irish Americana-pop duo Hudson Taylor, comprised of brothers Harry and Alfie Hudson Taylor, will release their new EP, Feel It Again, capturing their fresh sound and three tracks produced by Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Vance Joy). They’ve also announced tour dates in both Ireland and the US, where they will be supporting Gabrielle Aplin.

    The brothers honed their craft busking on the streets of their hometown of Dublin, as well as cities all over Europe, leading to the release of their debut album, Singing for Strangers, in 2015. Most recently, the band enjoyed a very successful 2017, playing to one of the biggest crowds of the weekend at the Electric Picnic festival in September, and their lead-off Irish single “Feel It Again” was one of the biggest national airplay hits of 2017. Hudson Taylor’s Irish autumn tour was a sell-out and they also played huge shows with Picture This, The Script and Kodaline.

    Fresh from a sold out UK tour, Hudson Taylor are currently touring in Europe in support of their brand new single “Run With Me.” The brothers will visit North America for a tour supporting Gabrielle Aplin, kicking off in February, before returning to Ireland in March for an eight-date tour which will coincide with the release of Feel It Again.

    Hudson Taylor Tour Dates (supporting Gabrielle Aplin):

    Feb. 21 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground
    Feb. 22 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
    Feb. 24 – Cambridge, MA – Sonia’s
    Feb. 25 – Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
    Feb. 27 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry at The Fillmore
    Feb. 28 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
    March 1 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
    March 3 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
    March 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
    March 7 – Portland, OR – Holocene
    March 8 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
    March 10 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
    March 11 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s

    Ireland Headlining Tour:

    March 27 – Belfast – Elmwood Hall
    March 28 – Dublin – Olympia Theatre
    March 29 – Cork – Opera House
    March 31 – Galway – Radisson Hotel
    April 1 – Limerick – The Big Top
    April 2 – Castlebar – TF Royal Acoustic Room
    April 4 – Derry – The Glassworks
    April 5 – Carlow – The Tower

  • Long Island Based Cloud Releases Trippy New Single, ‘Wildfire’

    Long Island’s Cloud (aka Tyler Taormina and friends) return with their new album Plays With Fire, featuring the single “Wildfire.” With a poppy, vibrant sound, hints of Panda Bear Electronics, Mazzy Star and Cocteau Twins can be found in this warming tune.

    “Wildfire” is accompanied by a music video for “Watch Your Mind Wander,” which Taormina directed in Los Angeles, one which revels in the sinister side of a good time, and an exclusive non-album B-Side. Nearly 10 minutes of tenderness and melancholy, “Watch Your Mind Wander” glimmers and glistens as it loops to its gentle conclusion. It’s a powerful comedown from the frenetic crash of “Wildfire” and offers yet another hint of what’s to come on the forthcoming Plays With Fire LP from Cloud.

  • 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.

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