NYS Music 20​18

Category: Upcoming Shows

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • ‘Hamilton’ Headlines Proctors 2018-19 Season

    Schenectady’s historic Proctors Theater, has announced it’s 2018-2019 theater lineup. The lineup boasts several hot ticket Broadway attractions including Hamilton that are headed to the Electric City’s version of New York City Theater.

    Gracing the stage during this season will be a blockbuster lineup that includes the musical “Hamilton,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” and “The Book of Mormon.” The lineup was revealed Monday at the venue’s “Proctors Bash” event. Other shows featured in the season’s lineup include “Anastacia,”  “A Bronx Tale,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “School of Rock,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “Waitress.”

    Proctors CEO Philip Morris, commented on the upcoming season, “Almost all of our titles in our Key Private Bank Series, and our exclusives, too, are still hot tickets on Broadway right now. We’ve never had this happen before and it shows that Proctors continues to be a major player in touring Broadway. It’s here, right in Schenectady.”

    Lin-Manual Miranda’s “Hamilton,” is slated for a two week stay in the Capital Region Aug. 13-25, 2019. The musical is about the nation’s first treasury secretary and founding father, Alexander Hamilton. Inspired by the 2004 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography by Ron Chernow, “Hamilton,” was nominated for a record 16 Tony awards, taking home 11, while earning Miranda a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

    Turning the stage lights on to start the season will be “Anastacia.” From the creators of the classic “Ragtime,” “Anastacia” takes us to back to the twilight of the Russian empire to the exhilaration of 1920 Paris. “Anastacia” will run Oct. 9-14, 2018.

    Chazz Palminteri’s autobiographical story “A Bronx Tale,” will run at Proctors on Oct. 23-28. First made famous on the big screen, actor Robert Neary, who plays Palminteri’s “Sonny” character on stage said this about the musical. “It’s the PG version of the film. There aren’t nearly as many F bombs. And I get to sing.”

    The Andrew Lloyd Weber classic, “The Phantom of the Opera,” will come out of the shadows for a two week stay on April 25 – May 5, 2019. Actor Derrick Davis, a Long Island native who has been playing the title character for the past 7 months said, “How could you get tired of this brilliant musical. It was the first show my parents took me to see when I was a kid. Now that I’m a part of it, it’s a part of my life.”

    Called the “Best Musical of This Century” by the New York Times, “The Book of Mormon,” is a musical comedy about two young Mormon missionaries who travel to Africa to preach the Mormon religion. The Book will be performed May 14-19 2019.

    For those ready to get into the Christmas spirit, Proctors holiday offering, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will make a run at the theater on Dec 5-9, 2018.

  • moe. Returns to Bass Player Rob Derhak’s Home State for 2-Night Run

    moe. are set to return to the State Theater in Portland Maine for their first Maine shows since 2016, and their first shows at the State since their New Year’s run in 2012. After a brief, but harrowing battle with oropharyngeal cancer, moe bass player Rob Derhak is eager to play a two-night run in his home state of Maine. If their inaugural shows back after the hiatus at Capitol Theatre were any indicator, these shows should be a dream come true for an energetic and deprived fan base. In the beginning of February, moe. returned to the stage for an absolutely blistering pair of shows, and are slated to play two more nights in Portland followed by two nights in Albany.
    moe bass player
    Bassist and vocalist Rob Derhak proved at the start of this tour that he is happy and healthy, his voice is still very much intact, and his fingers and hungry for some bass. Their last visit to his hometown featured three shows at the two venues, an intimate concert experience at Port City Music Hall, followed by two shows at the scenic Thompson’s Point, overlooking the ocean. Prior to that, they hadn’t seen any action in Maine since a one-night stand in 2014. Before that, moe. delivered a phenomenal New Year’s run in 2012 that spanned two venues across two states.

    After the uncertainty of the hiatus, and Rob’s cancer victory, moe. has announced an extensive tour that only seems to be growing, as well as several festival appearances and their triumphant return to Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Illinois. After the smashing success that was their sold-out Capitol run, the moe. fan community, with the proud moniker “moe.rons” are eagerly awaiting Rob’s return to his beautiful home state. These shows are not to be missed for any fans of Buffalo jam monsters moe.

    Listen to past moe performances from Portland:

    State Theater 12/30/2012 and 12/31/2012

    Port City Music Hall 6/16/2016

    Thompson’s Point 6/17/2016

    Thompson’s Point 6/18/2016

  • Ghost Light, featuring Tom Hamilton and Holly Bowling, Announce U.S. Tour

    Ghost Light, combining the musical talents of Holly Bowling, Tom Hamilton, Steve Lyons, Raina Mullen and Scotty Zwang, will tour across the country this summer, with a stop at Brooklyn Bowl on April 11. 

    ghost light tom hamilton

    Ghost Light, a true musical collaboration, combines five personalities, five perspectives, and five unique approaches towards one common sound. The group initially got together in a recording studio in Philadelphia, developing songs and musical communication without pre-conceived notions of their sound. Scotty Zwang explains, “It’s a unique and interesting approach we get to take…we are being patient with each other and figuring out what the song needs.”

    Tom Hamilton says of the band’s formation, “Having played with everyone involved in a live setting before, I had a pretty firm grasp of what we all brought to the table and it was exciting. There is a wonderful freedom that comes with knowing that you don’t have to carry the entire load over the finish line. So when Raina and I were workshopping ideas to bring to this new band, we felt super comfortable going in any direction, knowing that with our new bandmates, the songs will get to where they needs to go. And in the live setting, that confidence is just as strong.”

    The first half of 2018 will see the band playing major venues in major markets coast to coast, followed by  stops at festivals including Peach Fest and Lockn’ Festival, with more to be announced. A debut studio release will be released later this year, followed by a supporting tour. 

    Ghost Light Tour Dates
    March 20 – Winstons – San Diego, CA
    March 21 – The Mint – Los Angeles, CA
    March 23 – 24 – Terrapin Crossroads – San Rafael, CA
    March 27 – Humboldt Brews – Arcata, CA
    March 28 – HiFi Lounge – Eugene, OR
    March 29 – Volcanic Theater Pub – Bend, OR
    March 30 – Mission Theater – Portland, OR
    March 31 – Lofi – Seattle, WA
    April 11 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
    April 12 – Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA
    April 13 – The Acoustic – Bridgeport, CT
    April 14 – Thunder Road – Boston, MA
    April 17 – Gypsy Sally’s – Washington, DC
    April 18 – Lincoln Theater – Raleigh, NC
    April 19 – 5 Points Sanctuary – Roanoke, VA
    April 20 – Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC
    May 10 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO
    May 11 – Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO
    May 12 – Globe Hall – Denver, CO
    May 16 – City Winery – Chicago, IL
    May 17 – Founders Brewery – Grand Rapids, MI
    May 18 – Blind Pig – Ann Arbor, MI
    May 19 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
    July 19 – 22 – Peach Music Festival – Scranton, PA
    August 24 – Lockn’ Festival – Arrington, VA

  • Somebody Call The Doctor: Vicious Jimmy and Morris Code Cure the Funky Blues at Albany’s Parish Public House

    It has been a cold and miserable winter here in Capital Land.  Many people in the area are suffering from an acute lack of funkiness which is not only extremely toxic, but is also a very communicable disease.  If you feel that you are suffering from this awful malady, then do I have the cure for you: a night of deep fried funk featuring the masters of the funky beat, Vicious Jimmy with special guest Morris Code.

    This locally based band will be performing at the Parish Public House in Albany on Saturday, February 17 with special guest Morris Code. This will be Vicious Jimmy’s triumphant return since starting an extended hiatus back in 2015.  They will be performing numerous of their original funky classics, including “Liquor,” “Dr. Selkirkian” and “Stiff Arm” which are all featured on their 2012 LP Relatively Dangerous. Vicious Jimmy will be debuting a new lineup with the addition of guitarist and vocalist Jason “JY” Young, formerly of the Smokehouse Prophets.  It is a show definitely not to be missed and there is no prescription required.

  • Percy Hill to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of ‘Color in Bloom’

    Percy Hill will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1998 album Color in Bloom on Saturday, May 12 at Gramercy Theater in NYC. The jamband classic will be played in its entirety, along with other Percy Hill favorites. Peter Prince and Moon Boot Lover will open the night.

    percy hill color in bloom

    Percy Hill has performed sporadically over the past few years, and are excited to bring Color in Bloom to life on May 12. “Even at live shows and within the Color In Bloom tracks that we play on stage, we’ll go places we wouldn’t normally go musically and wouldn’t be heard on the record,” says John Leccese. Formed in New England in the 1990s by Joe Farrell and Nate Wilson, the group gained a core following and praise in The Village Voice and Entertainment Weekly.

    Tickets are $25 or $45 with VIP seating and are on sale now through CEG Presents.

  • Carnegie Hall Tribute to Led Zeppelin to feature Betty Lavette, The London Souls, more

    On March 7, Michael Dorf, founder of The Knitting Factory and City Winery, will bring together a wide ranging lineup of artists once again for an annual tribute to a legendary musical act. This year, The Music of Led Zeppelin will be honored by 20 genre-spanning artists at Carnegie Hall.

    carnegie hall led zeppelin

    For the concert, the house band will be led by Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith) and will include Jackie Greene, Andy York, Andy Burton and Dennis Diken. Previously-announced performers for the benefit are Bettye LaVette, The Zombies, Living Colour, The London Souls, J Mascis, Orianthi and Richie Sambora, O.A.R., Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards and Brian Wheat of Tesla.

    Recent additions to the show include moe. and the return of Bustle in Your Hedgerow, a supergroup formed in 2003 that features Joe Russo, Marco Benevento, Scott Metzger and Dave Dreiwitz. Nicole Atkins, Joseph Arthur, Son Little and Patty Smyth fill out the lineup for The Music of Led Zeppelin.

    The March 7 show will be the 15th annual tribute concert Dorf has held at Carnegie Hall, with net proceeds benefiting music education organizations for underprivileged youth. Over $1.3 million has been raised by the series in since its inception. Benefits in the past have honored the music of Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, David Byrne, Paul Simon, Prince, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, R.E.M., Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and others. For tickets and more info, visit Carnegie Hall’s website.

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