NYS Music 20​18

Category: Regions

  • The DAB Sessions, an Allstar Exploration of Music to debut in January

    Adam Chase of Jazz is PHSH embarks on a new allstar exploration of music with The DAB Sessions, premiering on January 10 at Brooklyn Bowl. Joining Chase are Aron Magner of The Disco Biscuits and Jacob Bergson of Nerve, two keyboardists from leading exploratory electro-jazz live bands, as well as bass prodigy Felix Pastorius and Antibalas saxophonist Morgan Price. The evening is presented by Instrument Find and will mark the debut of The DAB Sessions.

    The DAB Sessions

    Get to know the players in The DAB Sessions:

    Jacob Bergson is the multi talented keyboardist and producer for the world renown electronic band, NERVE. NERVE is a band led by famed masterful drummer JoJo Mayer that formed out of underground parties hosted by JoJo Mayer that led the way for electronic music to be performed on live instruments.

    Aron Magner has been on the forefront of the electronic music scene since it first began to grow. As the keyboardist and founding member of The Disco Biscuits, Magner has been instrumental in the growing popularity of electronic music being performed by highly proficient live musicians.

    When many people hear Felix Pastorius perform there are reasonable and obvious preconceived notions and expectations being that he is playing the same instrument as his legendary bass playing father, Jaco Pastorius. While the appreciation of the seemingly genetic talent is obvious, it is also obvious that Felix has put the time in to achieve his own voice on the instrument.

    Adam Chase is a drummer that is multi-faceted and the visionary behind The DAB Sessions. Chase is a multi instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriting music director that entered the world of drums in the 1st grade when he had the opportunity to see a young Tony Royster Jr. make mastering the drums look easy.

    Morgan Price is a multi-instrumentalist that found his way into the Dap Tones world with his saxophone, flute, and keyboard skills. His skills on tenor saxophone and baritone saxophone have led him to steady gigs with Antibalas and The Duke Ellington Orchestra.

  • Exclusive Premiere: Old Fame ‘Blue Savage’

    Blue: the color of emotion. Savage: a primitive ferocity. Put together, “Blue Savage” is an apt title for a song that juxtaposes emotive vocal styling with heavy, driving riffs. While the four-piece indie rock project Old Fame is brand new, the players are seasoned veterans of the regional music scene: Ben Armes (vocals / guitar), Evan Clark (guitar), Jay Asarese (bass), and Doug Kelley (drums).

    old fame blue savage“Blue Savage” will be featured on Old Fame’s debut self-titled EP due out January 7. The songs for Old Fame were engineered and mixed by Josh Pettinger, and mastered by Greg Thompson at Wicked Squid Studios.

    Catch the band’s first show January 26th at Bug Jar in Rochester. For updates and more events, follow Old Fame on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

  • Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz to Host Angel Forrest on December 21

    Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz is extremely excited to welcome 5-time Maple Blues Winning Canadian icon, singer-songwriter and her entire 6 piece band, Angel Forrest, to Retro Live on Friday, Dec 21.

    With a career spanning more than 30 years, including 10 albums, Angel Forrest is very well known in the Canadian blues scene.  Forrest, recipient of the Maple Blues Award for Female Vocalist of the year, channels the gritty and spirited sound of Janis Joplin.  The first set at the PB&J show this Friday will be her “Rock Christmas” set and the second set is going to be her “Rock Blues” show.  Get your advance tickets now here.  Advance tickets are $12 and $15 at the door.  More information can be found on the Facebook event page.

    Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz is busy planning upcoming shows with saxophonist and singer Vanessa Collier and her band as well as a Bluegrass special with Tony Trischka so be sure to keep an eye out for more to come in the North Country.

  • The Ballroom Thieves Warm the Rochester Winter Once Again

    The Ballroom Thieves returned to the Arbor Loft in Rochester for another show put on by Honest Folk. They stopped by last winter, Valentines Day to be exact, and were back for another frigid Rochester night. The folksy trio was back to let Rochester warm its souls next to their rich musical fire while the cold and snow settled in for the long haul outside.

    They’ve been busy during their ten-month absence and brought with them two new EPs, one of originals and one of covers. The set borrowed heavily from the new material so the show varied greatly from their previous visit and they continued to showcase their evolution as a band.

    On their very first visit to Rochester, back at Abilene, cellist Calin Peters had only recently joined the band. She was a bit shy and hesitant to take control musically. But if Tuesday night was your first time seeing the band, you might determine that the band was built around her specifically. Her beautiful voice led a seeming majority of the tunes and commanded attention unlike any other time we’ve seen them.

    Drummer Devin Mauch and guitarist Martin Earley were both recovering from colds while Peters was limping and in a brace from a minor tour van incident. They jokingly were running at a collective 230%, though you wouldn’t know it from their output. On newer material like the raucous and meandering “Can’t Cheat Death,” the deep fuzzed out blues “Fistfight,” and the bubbling, bouncing and building “Almost Love” they were as energized and active as ever.

    They threw some great new covers in the mix as well. Earley took the stage alone mid-set for a solo take on Tom Petty’s “Time to Move On” while Peters lead the band on Bahama’s spectacular “Lost in the Light,” which is featured on their just out EP, Covers.

    The show ended with a “fake” encore of “Bury Me Smiling,” but there was nothing fake about this show. Honest through and through, including some highly detailed band introductions, including individual Q and A sessions, including such deep dive topics as pets, eating habits and high school accomplishments.

    A short opening set by Odetta Hartman married electronics with acoustic folk. Drummer/percussionist Jack Inslee laid down landscapes of sound ranging from seaside and train noises to banjo melodies to backing choruses, while Hartman’s angelic voice and banjo, guitar or fiddle floated above. Inspired by the wedding-esque surroundings, they eschewed their usual spooky setlist for a more love-based repertoire.

    Ballroom Thieves, Arbor Loft – Rochester

    Setlist: Anybody Else, Can’t Cheat Death, Saint Monica, Only Lonely, Time to Move On (Tom Petty), Bartering, Trouble, Fistfight, Lost in the Light (Bahamas), Do Something, Almost Love, Bury Me Smiling

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

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

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

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

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

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

    EV: How about musically?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    West End Blend Waterhole

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

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

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

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

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

    Key Tracks: Get By, Day Dreamer, The Scene

  • SALTspace to host MG3’s Soulful Christmas Celebration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Cityfox Odyssey

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

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

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

    LINEUP:

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

  • Apollo Theater Presents Holidays in Harlem Series

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

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

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

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

  • Dave Matthews Mixes Favorites and Covers in Albany

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

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

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

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

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

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