Journey performed at the Times Union Center in Albany on May 23 to a packed house, opening for Def Leppard.
Setlist (courtesy of Setlist.fm): Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Be Good to Yourself, Ask the Lonely, Neal Schon Guitar Solo #1, Stone in Love, Any Way You Want It, Lights, Jonathan Cain Piano Solo, Open Arms, Who’s Crying Now, La Do Da, Steve Smith Drum Solo, Neal Schon Guitar Solo #2, Wheel in the Sky, Faithfully, Don’t Stop Believin’
Encore: Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
The Kitchen announced they will be hosting the New York Premier for the film, “Tour Without End (Twenty-One Portraits and a Protest)”, on June 11 at 8 p.m.. The film was created by Lauren Parnes and is a Trump–era commentary on contemporary culture and politics told through the casting of real-life musicians, artists and actors as bands on tour. At the screening there will also be live musicians accompanying, including BB TAY VEE, Macy Rodman and JD Samson’s New Band.
The film was shot between 2014-2018 and involves over 15 DIY music spaces created around New York City. The film tries to act as an urgent time capsule to show how rapidly gentrification is affecting the city. It managed this by shooting in real environments and situations. Most of the scenes were semi scripted for the core group of characters but a lot of it ended up being improvised. The press release revealed that, “Because many of these performers are legends themselves in the New York City downtown scene, they are archetypes playing archetypes. The work revels in the sometimes hilarious— but always complex —band dynamics the characters endure in touring, collaborating, and aging in a youth-driven music industry. As the players move in and out of fictionalized characters and real life, the film moves in and out of non-linear narrative and historical document.”
The Kitchen is one of New York City’s most forward-looking nonprofit spaces and is known for showing innovative work by emerging and established artists across all disciplines. Their programs range from dance, music, performance, and theater to video, film, and art, in addition to literary events, artists’ talks, and lecture series. The Kitchen was created in 1971 and has been a powerful force in shaping the cultural landscape of this country ever since.
Show Information:
Tour Without End
June 11 – The Kitchen -New York City
Tickets $15 General / $10 Members.
With any questions about the screening, please contact the box office at boxoffice@thekitchen.org or by phone at 212.255.5793 x11.
For more information on Tour Without End visit the website
A group of fresh faces by the name of FLOTUS are taking over the Syracuse, NY music scene. FLOTUS, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Eric Thompson, keyboardist Ryan McKeown, bassist Blake Trexler and drummer Sean Ferguson, took home the glory at an annual Battle of the Bands competition held by Orange Music Group (OMGSyracuse) at Syracuse University.
This landed the group 6 hours of free recording time at SubCat Studios in downtown Syracuse. With this prize, the group has launched their first EP, Sundance, which is available for listening on Spotify and iTunes. FLOTUS has also just dropped their first ever music video, “Swim To Me,” which is linked below. This video is fun for the summer and features bright, bold visuals, with vocalist Eric Thompson shot singing along to the tune.
Brianna Skelly: Hi, guys!! How are we doing here?
FLOTUS: Hey, it’s going good!! It’s great to be talking to you.
BS: Great, it’s wonderful to become acquatinted with you all. Now, I’ve heard that the name “FLOTUS” was inspired by Michelle Obama’s Twitter handle. Would you mind telling me more about that?
Blake Trexler: Yeah, of course. Well, the guys and I were messing around at practice one day, just tossing names back and forth and FLOTUS was thrown into the mix. We liked it. It’s actually become a running joke between the band. We like to switch up the acronym at our shows. Keeps things interesting.
BS: That’s so unique! So, how did the four of you meet?
Sean Thompson: Well, we’re all music majors at Syracuse University, so we all happened to meet by chance in a class, but Ryan and I went to the same high school.
BS: That’s amazing. What are your majors underneath music? Are you all majoring in performance or something different?
Ryan McKeown: Eric and I are sound recording technology majors. Blake and Sean are both majoring in music industry.
BS: Wonderful. Both great areas take up as a music major. Being students, do you find it hard to balance school work, shows, and band practices?
Eric Thompson: Time management is always tight, but we try our hardest to make it work and practice as much as we possibly can, even if we have to get together at night after classes. I think what helps us the most is that we became friends before the band formed. We met in class our first semester, and after that things came together. I think it’s important to have a personal connection with people you’re spending so much time with. There has to be a balance. Like, we’ll have practices where we need to buckle down and focus and then practices where we’re just hanging out while we play. Having fun with it.
BS: I think that’s important, too. A balance between work and play, if you will. You can’t have one without the other. Now, getting more into the music. Are there any venues or local cafés that your band frequents?
ET: Yes. We played our first gig as a band at Funk n’ Waffles. It was a good atmosphere. Super rough performance, but we made the most of it. We were opening for a friend and I went out on stage and I had to improvise for a long time. I just remember looking backstage and the guys couldn’t come out because this dude was telling us to move our car in this alleyway. It was definitely a gig the band won’t ever forget, but it was a good time in spite of everything.
BS: Wow, that’s rough. I’m glad it worked out in the end, though. Do you guys have a permanent vehicle?
SF: No. We’re trying our hardest to save for a van. We’re lucky that we have loved ones in our lives that care for us, but there have been times where we’ve had to load equipment into taxis. I even remember a number of times where we’ve had to walk with heavy amplifiers and drum sets to shows because we didn’t have the transportation available that we need.
BS: Now, that is some serious dedication to your music. I’ve never heard anything like that. Keep up with that ambition and it will take you extremely far.
BT: Thank you so much.
BS: Of course. So, your EP Sundance came out this February. What inspired your EP, if anything?
ET: Well, the opportunity came along because our group won a Battle of the Bands competition at our university. The prize was 6 hours of recording time for free. We couldn’t afford any extra time in the studio, so we buckled down and actually got the entire EP recorded within that 6 hour time frame. We didn’t have any time for many editing technicalities, either, so we ran the songs and the recording quality came out sounding very homemade. It’s extremely similar to what you’ll get from a live performance of ours. Also, where we go to school, it’s incredibly cold. I remember once we played a house show in an attic, and it was so cold that you could see your breath throughout the entire performance. It was memorable, though, not just because of the cold, but because of the atmosphere. I think that’s what is most important to our band and the main idea of this EP, as well. We like making light of things and remembering the sunshine when times are hard. We want everyone to find a place in our music and to find the sun beyond the clouds. That was the main inspiration behind it.
BS: That’s an incredible message to express to your listeners. Also, incredible time management skills. Getting an EP done in 6 hours is impressive. You’re an ambitious group of guys. You mentioned wanting everyone to find a place in your music. Is there a specific musical influence driving your band?
RM: I think we all have personal influences musically, but that’s what makes it work. Each of us brings our own individual style to the group.
SF: Right. We also try to make music that is accessible for everyone, whether you like jazz or rock or funk. We want to make stuff that real musicians can appreciate and we try to be versatile. We’ll cover any song. We want to have a place for everything and everyone inside of our music.
BS: I like the inclusive mindset. Being versatile is a smart move. Can your listeners expect an album on the horizon anytime soon?
ET: Our listeners can expect new songs. We plan on writing and touring lots over the summer. Our goal is to be touring all around the country. An album is definitely in our thoughts, but its a long-term goal.
FLOTUS is a great live group with terrific energy onstage and a terrific stage presence, as well. Linked below is a video of FLOTUS where you can find the group performing, as well as talking new music with CitrusTV. FLOTUS has plans of touring throughout the summer, and they are a great new group to give some attention in the coming months.
Arkells have released the video for “People’s Champ” via Last Gang Records. Directed by renowned photographer & creative Matt Barnes, the video brings the optimism sought within “People’s Champ” to life. Shot in the band’s hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, the video aims to find the joy at the at the heart of every-day, mundane surroundings. The song is set to debut this week as a key theme to the NHL’s Stanley Cup final.
“‘People’s Champ’ is a political song, but also a joyful one,” says frontman, Max Kerman. “There’s a pulse to the song we wanted to capture. We wanted to see images of different kinds of people coming to life through music and the company of their friends and surroundings.” Arkells’ vision was realized through the direction of respected collaborator Matt Barnes. “Matt Barnes has a style of photography that is uniquely HIM. He always casts interesting subjects and is able to create a world within its own. We jumped at the opportunity to make a video with him – his effervescence makes for an amazing time on set,” added Kerman.
“People’s Champ” is the first single to be announced off the upcoming fifth studio album from Arkells, set for release later this year. Written and recorded in Toronto by Arkells, produced by their previous collaborator, Eric Ratz (“Knocking at the Door” and “Leather Jacket”), and mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, The 1975), “People’s Champ” is an upbeat, horn-infused, politically-charged anthem that is resonating deeply with listeners. CBC calls the song a “top contender for the title of 2018’s protest song of the year.”
Earlier this year, Arkells announced “The Rally” on June 23, an official kick-off to the summer, live at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, with special guests Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs and Elevator. Due to popular demand, the hometown show was shortly upgraded to a full stadium affair of up to 26,000 tickets, making it the band’s biggest headline show to-date, surpassing their 2017 summer show at Budweiser Stage in Toronto which sold out in three days. In partnership with PLUS 1, Arkells have already raised over $20K through ticket sales for “The Rally” that will be donated to Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health. More info and tickets can be found here.
Notable Upcoming Shows and Festivals:
June 23 – Hamilton, ON @ Tim Horton’s Field: The Rally w/ Special Guests Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs
Aug 25 – Cleveland, OH @ INCUYA Music Festival
Aug 31 – Seattle, WA @ Seattle Centre – Bumbershoot Festival
Oct 12 – Austin, TX @ Zilker Park – Austin City Limits
Full tour schedule at arkellsmusic.com
Legendary rock band Los Lobos will headline Cohoes Music Hall on Sunday, July 22. The three-time Grammy winners are known around the world for their cover of “La Bamba” which was featured in the film based on the life of Ritchie Valens. This LA-based band has always striven to maintain their Mexican roots despite mainstream success. Louie Perez, the band’s drummer, once called their powerhouse mix of rock, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues and traditional Spanish and Mexican music “the soundtrack of the barrio.” They recently released a split vinyl with The Shins on Third Man Records for Record Store Day. The song “The Fear” is now available digitally on Spotify. Tickets for the show at Cohoes Music Hall are on sale through Guthrie-Bell Productions. 
Black Mountain Symphony, a six-piece indie rock group from the Capital Region, today premieres “Walk to the Edge,” off their upcoming album Peacetime, due out June 2. Peacetime showcases the wide range of styles and influences that Black Mountain Symphony bring to their music, and is the first album with the current line up, representing three years’ worth of song writing and performance experience.
Guitarist Chris Peppe shares some insight on “Walk to the Edge” and the arrangement of the song:
“Walk to the Edge Is one of the songs that captures our unique sound and our take on music and songwriting. When people who haven’t heard us ask what kind of music we play, this song comes to mind as a prime example. Most of the music came from group songwriting sessions and jams. We liked the idea of a folksy sounding verse paired with a hard-hitting rock chorus. The music is dramatic. It’s melancholy but hopeful and has twists that draw you in. There are sharp dynamic shifts that keep you involved. We like to experiment with adding our own touch to different styles, but this tune has something we consider our own particular sound. It was one of the first songs we wrote together with the current line-up in 2015 after Paul Burke, on bass, and Jay Matthews, on drums, joined the band. We were all letting loose and finding ourselves in the mix and our individual talents really came through.”
Black Mountain Symphony blend haunting violin melodies, prolific synth sounds and dance rhythms, and sprinkle sets with hand-picked covers from all over the musical spectrum. The rising artist most recently won NYS Music’s March Madness and have performed with several national rock icons including Rusted Root, Modest Mouse, Flaming Lips and Days of the New. Don’t miss their album release party on June 2 at Centre Street Pub in Schenectady.
My Father’s Place, the famed establishment in Roslyn on Long Island returns this summer with dozens of shows lined up by owner Michael “Eppy” Epstein.
Staten Island native Buster Poindexter kicks off the summer at Roslyn Hotel on June 29, and is followed by an evening with Livingston Taylor on June 30, a sold out performance featuring special guests Chris Kinnear and Andy Aledort.
Long Island’s Blue Velvo performs original blues, roots and rock on July 3 and on July 5, Ray Lambiase and the Tin Kickers and Blue Race perform with Jeanna Lewis. July is rounded out by performances from jazz fusion band Brand X, Robert Gordon, 15 year-old Long Islander Brandon “Taz” Neiderauer, Third World, John Hammond, Garland Jeffreys with Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, Vista Hill, Zebra, Buffalo-based jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra, Jill Sobule, NRBQ and Arlen Roth.
August will find jazz pianist McCoy Tyner kicking things off on August 3, back to back performances by Long Island Music Hall of Fame members Barnaby Bye, Sophie B. Hawkins, Sweet Suzi Blues Band, The Blasters with special guest Lara Hope and the Ark-Tones, Howie Day, Glenn Tilbrook, Ken McGorry and the Achievements featuring Ray Lambiase and The Stollers, and Christine Spero Group to finish out the month.
Tickets and memberships for the 200-seat supper club are available on the My Father’s Place website. Read more about My Father’s Place.
Before I start this review let me disclose that I am not well versed in electronic music, my expertise lies within metal so I will be reviewing this album from that perspective and will be comparing elements of songs to other groups in an attempt to best review the album.
The first track “Resistor” is full of industrial glitchy instrumentals accompanied by drums in the back leading the beat. A little after halfway through vocals start chanting about the resistance. “Resistor” is definitely a great intro track while the second track “Midnight Sun” was an abrupt change from “Resistor”, with its slow paced and droning styled vocals and notes that echo.
“Prom Dress” was one of my favorite tracks with vocals that are reminiscent of Marilyn Manson and Element A440 and has a rock sorta sound to match. Any fans of Manson style vocals should take a look.
“Petra” felt like an experiment that was attempting the same thing as some doom metal projects with what sounds like a few bass strings and a deep bellowing whisper that is a departure from the rest of the tracks.
“Sick Boy” instantly reminded me of “Plur Police” by Knife Party. It’s full of those edm sounds that I have no clue what they’re called and had humorous lyrics like “why you bring him to this office can’t you see he’s too big” and “can you do one thing for me?” This track should definitely be a top contender for a single if Komrad decides to release any singles.
“Lay Me Down”, “Pocket Full Of Knife” and “Midnight Sun” were completely out of my realm of music and I couldn’t find anything in them to personally latch onto.
Overall this has more of a rock and roll sound than a metal sound but that’s not a bad thing- I enjoyed multiple tracks. I don’t know who to recommend this to me but my electronic music tastes are limited to Knife Party and Master Boot Record so if you are into either of them you might enjoy this album.
Resistor was released online May 25. Head to their Bandcamp to purchase.
Key Tracks: Petra, Sick Boy, Prom Dress
On Thursday May 24, The Space at Westbury held an open forum for musicians, artist managers, the press, and music enthusiasts to discuss the state of the Long Island music scene. Appropriately titled “Are Tribute Bands Taking all the Gigs?,” two separate panels of Long Island music scene veterans sat down and had a necessary discussion on where the scene is currently, what it once was, and the direction they would like to see it move towards in the future.
The first panel titled “Putting the Long Island Music Scene Under the Microscope” did just that. This panel was moderated by Jim Faith (musician, promoter, talent buyer, producer of Great South Bay Music Festival and Co-Founder of the LI Music Hall of Fame). With the guidance of Faith, a group of musicians, old and young, sat down to dissect what exactly is going on in the LI music scene. While many topics were brought up, the main theme discussed was whether the influx of tribute bands are oversaturating the market. To ensure everyone’s voice was heard, the panel was split nearly down the middle with musicians in tribute bands and musicians who play their own original music, accompanied by an unbiased voice from Newsday Pop Music Writer Glenn Gamboa.
A major consensus that was agreed upon was that while tribute bands are on the rise on Long Island, it does not mean original artists must suffer as a result. Demographics reveal that the typical music listener on Long Island tends to be older, have a job, and family obligations, so it makes sense that they would spend their one night out a week seeing a band they know they will enjoy and can sing along to. However, this does not mean original music is a dead artform on Long Island. Almost every venue provides at least one night a week for original artists to play and gain exposure, despite how many or few people come out. What it essentially comes down to is local artists honing their craft, properly promoting themselves, collaborating with venues, and loving what they do. While the scene is not as vibrant as it was in the 1970’s, there is still plenty of new music to be seen every night on Long Island.
The second panel, also moderated by Faith, picked up where the first left off and looked towards the future. Titled “Moving Forward: What Can Be Done to Nurture and Support Our Original Artists, Maintain a Vibrant Music Scene, and Continue Our Rich Music History”, the second panel had more of a focus on management and venues. Many of the musicians from the previous panel were replaced by an assortment of businessmen from venue owners to talent buyers, and even a local DJ/musician.
The discussion of the second panel delved into issues managers and artists were encountering, and focused on ways to correct them. Much of the discussion centered around ways artists need to promote themselves; whether it’s on social media, local advertisements, working with the venue, or even just talking to people after shows. It was agreed upon that artists must be prepared for the business side of the scene when dealing with venues or record companies, and that while many of the artists may be from Long Island and play there often, it is important to venture out of the area to promote themselves. Although some may think the Long Island music scene may seem to be on the decline, as long as there are people who are passionate about live music and keeping things fresh, there is plenty of hope for the future.
Saranac Brewery, in Utica NY, has two shows coming up you don’t want to miss. Dark Star Orchestra and Get the Led Out are both making stops at the brewery on their separate tours this summer.
Dark Star Orchestra is a Grateful Dead tribute band who’s known for recreating historic dead shows. Dark Star Orchestra formed over a decade ago and their determined commitment to ‘raising the Dead’ has drawn them nationwide attention from publications as big as Rolling Stone who say they are, “Quite possibly the most talented and accomplished tribute band out there… they’ve definitely mastered their inspiration’s vagabond nature.”
Get The Led Out is a Led Zeppelin tribute band who, “have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage” according to their press release. Get The Led Out consists of six musicians and are based out of Philadelphia. They have been dubbed by the media as “The American Led Zeppelin.”
Tickets went on sale Friday, May 25th at 10AM from Creative Concerts for both shows.
Show information:
Dark Star Orchestra
July 31- Saranac Breweries – Utica, NY
Doors: 7PM // Show: 8PM
All ages.
Get The Led Out
Aug. 10 – Saranac Breweries – Utica, NY
Doors: 7PM // Show: 8PM
All ages.
For more information on Dark Star Orchestra visit their website
For more information on Get The Led Out visit their website