On March 8 Brooklyn Bowl’s begotten sons returned to the venue of their conception for the first night of three. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead had fans lined up around the block and packed in on the floor. The couches on the bowling allies were pushed back to make room for the freaks in the vip section. With the room ready to burst at the seems, Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger, and Joe Russo took to the stage. With them, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead brought their approach to the music of the Grateful Dead.
Setlist:
Set 1: Alligator, St. Stephen, Dupree’s Dimond, King Solomon’s Marbles, Touch of Grey
Set 2: The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion), Jack Straw, Hell In A Bucket, Scarlet Begonias, I know you Rider, Stella Blue
Even after all these years, members of The Grateful Dead are still finding a way to push the envelope and explore new things. Beginning tonight at Radio City Music Hall, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh will embark on their first ever set of shows as a duo. Clearly, something must have clicked when the two founding members of The Dead reunited last summer for an entire Phil & Friends set at Lockn’ Music Festival.
Thankfully, for those not able to attend any of the 6 shows on this abbreviated tour, the fine folks over at nugs.net will be making each one available via webcast and, thus, couch tour a reality. After a two night stay at Radio City, the Duo Tour rolls on to Boston for shows March 7-8 and then Chicago for a final set of two show on March 10-11. Rumors are running rampant as to possible guests and sit-ins for what’s sure to be a memorable tour for these two long time friends so go here to get all the information and order the shows.
But first, enjoy this vintage clip of a younger Bob Weir and Phil Lesh duo performing with the rest of The Grateful Dead during their legendary 1980 run at Radio City Music Hall.
The Squirrel Nut Zippers are back in business with their highly anticipated new album, Beasts of Burgundy is the first release in eighteen years.The twelve tracks are “inspired by the city of New Orleans, the poet Ron Cuccia, and a disregard for convention.” Pre-orders are being taken for the album, which will be available March 23 via Southern Broadcasting. They are already on tour for the album, and additional dates have been scheduled. They’ll be playing in the Northeast from late March to early April, with shows at the Center for the Arts of Homer on March 25 and City Winery in New York City on March 28. Tickets are on sale now.
Squirrel Nut Zippers – 2018 Tour Dates
March 2 – Palm Springs, CA – McCallum
March 3 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – Coach House
March 4 – Berkeley, CA – Freight & Salvage
March 5 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
March 6 – Arcata, CA – Humboldt State
March 7 – Nevada City, CA – Miner’s Foundry
March 8 – Reno, NV – The Saint
March 9 – Grants Pass, OR – The Rogue Theatre
March 10 – Eugene, OR – Jacqua Concert Hall
March 11 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
March 13 – Seattle, WA -Triple Door
March 14 – Seattle, WA – Triple Door
March 22 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
March 23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Jergels
March 24 – Williamsport, PA – Arts Center March 25 – Homer, NY – Homer Arts Center
March 27 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe March 28 – New York, NY – City Winery
March 29 – New Haven, CT – The Ballroom
March 30 – Fall River, MA – Narrows
March 31 – Plymouth, NH – Flying Monkey
April 1 -Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
April 2 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair
April 28 – Oxford, MS – Double Decker Festival
April 29 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
May 10 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater
May 11 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater
May 12 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard
May 13 – Wichita, KS – Crown Uptown Theatre
May 15 – Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi
May 16 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
May 17 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s Music Diner
May 18 – Newport, KY – Southgate House
May 19 – Milwaukee, WI – Wilson Center
May 20 – Chicago, IL – City Winery
On February 28, 2003, Phish performed the penultimate show of their Winter Tour at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, their first since returning from a two year hiatus. The result was one of the best Phish performances of the ‘2.0’ era that spanned from December 31, 2002 through August 15, 2004.
poster by Louis Arzonico
The first set of the show kicks off with “Birds of a Feather” and while this is a solid starter to a 2003 Phish show, the “Destiny Unbound” that followed is the song that fans skip to, for this was the first version of the song since 1991, and one that fans had been clamoring for since the mid-90s. At first, few in the crowd knew what it was, but as the lyrics started, you can hear the crowd erupt, and even more so when the refrain “We gotta get on the road, Destiny Unbound” is sung.
poster design by Troy Alexander
Shock and awe swept through the crowd and continued into “Horn,” for the biggest bust out of them all was finally here. A 20+ minute “Bathtub Gin” is full of peaks and jam sections, never letting up and only resting when followed by “Sleep.” An extended “Back on the Train” and “Walls of the Cave” sandwich “Bouncing Around the Room” to wrap up the firepowered first set, and set two would prove to be equally incredible.
One of the best versions of “Tweezer” this century kicked off a five-song second set, stretching more than 27 minutes and finding ebbs and flows throughout, never noodling or fading out, just pure improvisation start to finish. The segue into a then-rare cover of Bob Marley’s “Soul Shakedown Party” lit up the room once again, as did a dark 19 minute “David Bowie.”
The only time to catch a breath this set was “Round Room,” but being the title track off the band’s recently released album, fans were rapt with attention to the new tune. Closing the set was a slow building “Harry Hood” that capped the show with a bang.
shirt design by chris mcmurray
A three song encore starting with “Contact,” “Mexican Cousin” gave the fans a couple of sing-alongs before the energetic close of “Tweezer Reprise.” You would be hard pressed to find a Phish show in 2003 or 2004 that had as much firepower as February 28, 2003 did.
Phish, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, NY February 28, 2003
Computer Magic, aka producer/songwriter Danielle “Danz” Johnson, has released her official sophomore album, DANZ, this month along with a video for the track, “Amnesia.”
Nods to Alien and Logan’s Run can be found in the black and white video, which finds Danielle in her workspace surrounded by what inspires her. “The song is about going crazy during your creative process. It’s about isolating yourself from the outside world, locking yourself in your studio to try and create something, but in the midst of this, you kind of lose yourself.”
The upcoming semi-autobiographical album DANZ is even darker and more experimental than her first studio effort, Davos, and delves into themes such as losing yourself and your memory, a dystopian future and not following along with the crowd. Danielle writes and records at her Brooklyn studio while running Channel 9 Records and hosting her own radio show every other week on Newtown Radio called “Outerspace.”
Computer Magic Tour Dates: 3/03 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
3/15 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada (Not So Fun Weekend)
3/23 – Richmond, VA @ Gallery S
3/25 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
3/26 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
4/14 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
Singer/Songwriter Sammi Rae Murciano recently debuted the video for her single “Reflection,” a heartfelt track that looks back on her experiences with bullying and her journey towards empowerment. The cinematic video was produced and directed by Nick Terrana and shows Sammi’s struggle as it weaves between depictions of her as both a young girl and teenager, struggling as a victim of bullying and the effects on her self-esteem.
A Long Island native, 17 year old Sammi Rae has been singing for three years, and is inspired by a wide range of talents before her, citing influences from Beyoncé to Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Adele, Dua Lipa and many more. Sammi’s strong and soulful voice is beyond her years and knows that you have to believe in yourself and have confidence to be successful has been her continued mantra, especially showcased on “Reflection,” which was recorded at The Loft Sound Studio with Donnie Klang, a recording artist and winner of MTV’s “Making The Band 4” and artist/engineer Matthew LaPorte.
Murciano’s three song EP “The Story” includes “Reflection” along with “Back to Me,” about wanting to move forward and finding the strength to trust and love again, and “Never Letting Go,” a track she says she wants “to inspire others” continuing “no one should let anyone stop them from doing what they love.”
Murciano shares about the writing behind “Reflection,” “There are many stories you hear about people being bullied and how they resort to harmful and drastic measures which could lead to dangerous outcomes. I had my singing to turn to and it’s only made me stronger. As a way to escape from the feelings of being hurt, bullied, and hated on, I started writing in my journal…which turned into a source for songs that told my story.”
Having performed “Reflection” at the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying’s 2nd Annual Fall Gala, and with the video debut at Patchogue’s 89 North on Saturday, February 17, Murciano will certainly have better days to reflect upon as she continues to help others with her music in 2018.
John Fogerty and ZZ Top join forces for a ‘Blues and Bayous Tour’ this year. These Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legends set off on their epic musical journey in New Jersey in May, with stops in New York at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh on June 20 and Marvin Sands Theater in Canandaigua on June 23. Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 2 at 10am local time. Presale ticket information can be found on the websites for John Fogerty and ZZ Top.
John Fogerty and ZZ Top Blues and Bayous Tour
May 25 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Spa & Resort – Event Center
May 26 – Holmdel, NJ – P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
May 27 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
May 29 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
May 30 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
June 1 – Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Bay Center
June 2 – Clearwater, FL – Coachman Park
June 3 – West Palm Beach,FL – Coral Sky Amphitheater
June 5 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheater
June 6 – Atlanta, GA – TBA
June 10 – Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheater
June 12 – Chicago, IL – TBA
June 13 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
June 14 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
June 16 – Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
June 17 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
June 19 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Centre June 20 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Heath at Jones Beach Theater
June 22 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavillion June 23 – Canandaigua, NY – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
June 24 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
June 26 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort *with Willie Nelson
June 27 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 29 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Balkan Bump, the newest project from trumpet player, producer and ethnomusicologist Will Magid, Gramatik and Brooklyn-born Talib Kweli have combined forces on the debut track “Aymo.” Balkan Bump debuted at Gramatik’s NYE show at Terminal 5 this past December and will be joining Gramatik on the road during his Spring 2018 Re:Coil tour.
Musically, Balkan Bump is a fusion of live instruments, world influences and lush electronic production. The debut EP demonstrates his experience as an instrumentalist and arranger, fusing energetic Balkan brass with heavy electronic production and hip-hop/trap influences. This thrilling blend of live brass and electronic production carries over to Balkan Bump’s live show, and can be found joining Gramatik as he unveils his horn-infused live set to a North American audience in Spring 2018 for the Re:Coil Tour starting in February 2018.
“Aymo” was a collaboration from Gramatik’s Re:Coil Part I EP, originally written by Will Magid and Talib Kweli, who met while playing alongside Pretty Lights on The Conan O’Brien show. Gramatik loved it so much he wanted to put his own spin on it and now his independent label Lowtemp will also provide a home for Will’s first EP under the Balkan Bump moniker, due out in early March. In December, Will released the first single from the upcoming EP, “Irfan.”
Re:Coil Tour Dates
Feb. 21 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Feb. 22 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
Feb. 24 – New Orleans, LA – Joy Theatre
Feb. 26 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Druid City
Feb. 27 – Chattanooga, TN – TBD
March 1 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
March 2 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
March 3 – Knoxville, TN – The International
April 12 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
April 13 – Richmond, VA – The National
April 14 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
April 15 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
April 18 – Columbia, SC – Music Farm
April 19 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
April 20 – Washington, DC – Echostage
April 21 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
April 22 – Portland, ME – State Theatre April 24 – Syracuse, NY – The Westcott Theater
April 26 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
Space rockers Escaper, who perfectly blend funk, rock, jazz and fusion, today released their second album Edge Detection on Ropeadope Records. NYS Music is proud to premiere Edge Detection, recorded at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn with co-producer John Davis (Lettuce, Brad Mehldau, Black Keys). The opening track “Secret Weapon” is indeed that – with a slowly accelerating build infused with saxophone, the song gets grittier and nastier, and just when you think it’s fading out, Escaper storms back giving a Flying Frog Brigade level of intensity to the track. Give a listen to the album below.
Escaper performs in Syracuse on Saturday at Funk ‘n Waffles with special guest Ryan Vendetti.
While at The Bunker Studio, Escaper recorded over the course of two days with all five band members playing together simultaneously, while in isolated rooms. Bandleader and guitarist, Will Hanza, expresses, “This also allows for synergy to happen because instead of me playing with something that is already there and that not being able to react back to me, we can all react to each other together, alive in the moment. I think that is the most important thing. Our live show is really important to us and what we can do with that. We wanted to be able to capture that feel and that synergy in the studio as much as possible.”
The songs all had a set structure, but left plenty of room for improvisation right in the studio. The idea was to capture an in-the-moment feel of the musicians working off of each other. In regards to this, Will further states “The term ‘jam’ can be a loaded one, but the idea of having some concrete ideas, while still allowing the music to be open to take advantage of the moment is really important to us.”
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.
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
Thankfully, for those not able to attend any of the 6 shows on this abbreviated tour, the fine folks over at 
Trampled by Turtles Spring Tour Dates: