There will be a Woodstock festival in 2019, fifty years after the iconic 1969 affair. Michael Lang, promoter of the festival for the past five decades, spoke with the Poughkeepsie Journal on Friday, November 16, confirming that plans are shaping up. While the date, lineup, and other details are not ready to be revealed, Lang told the Poughkeepsie Journal that the 50th anniversary will come full circle to the original themes of sustainability, activism, and social justice.
We’re hoping to inspire people to speak up and get involved and get out and vote and help us save the planet. We are in trouble and it seems like we’ve been brought back in time in a lot of ways. It’s eerie how similar a lot of things are to the way it was in the late ‘60s. Lessons we thought we learned seem to be coming back, unlearned. The progress we learned in social justice seems to be going backwards.
– Michael Lang, Woodstock Music and Arts Festival Promoter
During a Q&A at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame ceremony earlier this month, Lang was asked, “Plans for 50?” He responded, “Coming. I can’t yet, but coming. Definitely coming.”
Last December, New York State’s Regional Economic Development Council awarded the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — a performing arts center located on the grounds of the original Woodstock — $689,063 for a three-day festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
The Egg recently announced five great musical acts visiting the Capital Region for shows this coming spring. The first is Americana, rock, and improvisational group Railroad Earth. The group self identifies with rock-and-roll, but their distinct bluegrass influence is undeniable. Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds? You can see this incredible fusion of musical genres yourself Feb. 14.
Railroad Earth
Next in the line up is local talent who hail from Albany, the folk group Dannybrook Fair. The three original members recently celebrated a successful summer tour. You can catch the trio during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 14.
March’s offerings continue at the performing arts venue as Pat Metheny’s recent jazz project Side Eye makes an appearance on March 30. Universally recognized as one of the best guitarists in jazz history, Metheny is joined by pianist James Francies and drummer Nate Smith for this musical experiment. You will not want to miss a performance from the unmatched Pat Mentheny.
Last, but not least, Candlebox comes to Capital region audiences on Thursday, April 25. The Seattle rock group, who rose to fame in the ’90s grunge scene will be showcasing songs from their sixth album Disappearing in Airports.
On October 11, The Ridgefield Playhouse hosted two acoustic bands with a big sound. Lucky Chops, who are on a national tour, were joined by Funky Dawgz Brass Band for a double bill that made a Thursday night feel more like the start of a long weekend.
Funk Dawgz started the night with a high energy take on the New Orleans street band sound, mixing some funk and hip-hop elements into their arrangements and improv. Later in their set, Tommy Weeks (tenor sax) welcomed one of his younger music students on stage for a few minutes to shine during a traditional NOLA take on “When The Saints Go Marching In.”
Lucky Chops has been growing in popularity since getting a bit of attention busking in the NYC subway stations, so much so that they’ve gone on to play at packed houses on European tours. Though om a Thursday night with a small crowd, the band played with the high level energy they consistently bring to the sold-out clubs shows of Brooklyn and the outdoor summer festivals.
Lucky Chops debuted some new music from an upcoming recording project and dug a bit into their 2018 EP Virtue and Vice Sessions, Vol. 1. As a tribute to their high school band roots, they started off their encore with “For Connie,” a tune written in dedication to one of their music teachers.
Lucky Chops Setlist: Halfway to the Hudson, Best Things, The Dancing Babies, Ab Jam, Prisoner, Temple of Boom, Buyo, These Tears, Hoodoos at Sunrise, Familiar Places, Full Heart Fancy, Without You, Coco, Ska Ba, Danza
Have you ever been at a concert, gotten deep into a song or a jam, and temporarily forgotten what that song you were rocking out to was called? We’ve all been there. And now we have a word for it.
There should be a word for that moment in a jam when you’re so enthralled by it and just so in it that you completely forget what song it is.
You may one day visit Merriam-Webster and find the following entry:
Jamnesia (noun)
jam·ne·sia | jam-ˈnē-zhə
1. A partial or total inability to remember what song a band is currently playing.
2. A gap is someone’s memory while listening to music.
Looking to use Jamnesia in a sentence? Try this:
“I was getting down so hard to “Tweezer” that I got a little jamnesia and had to ask my buddy what song they were playing.”
or
“I remember moe. opened up with “Happy Hour Hero” but I was lost in the jam and ended up with jamnesia until Rob returned to the chorus.”
Jigsaw Youth came out swinging with their sophomore album, Sorry for the Distortion. The biggest change this time around is the production value. Their style, attitude and sound is similar to their first collection but great production value, layering and adventurous blending of genres breathes new life into the group. New York natives Nastacha Beck, (guitar) Julia Mannarino (drums) and Maria Alvarez (bass/vocals) have obviously poured their heart and soul into this one and created a highly polished album.
Punk is all about fuzzy guitar, relentless drums, powerful lyrics and-chant worthy choruses, but when an album is under-produced, it can make it indigestible. I’m all for dirty and washy punk-ish sounds, but if instrumentation isn’t balanced then the group can come off as illegitimate. Jigsaw Youth overcame this, striking gold with producer Gary Nieves Jr. of Cobra Sun Studio. This is not to say Jigsaw’s song writing and talent doesn’t deserve any attention, because they have created some fiery and energetic songs.
Hit play and “Stillborn Black” blasts out with a quintessential punk sound. Alvarez’s vocals are an instant hit. They’re baritone, atonal and at times, loud and crackly – she’s a perfect fit for this genre with her talents shining throughout the album. This one has a catchy chorus, a good harmonic break mid track and is a fantastic prelude to what the rest of the album has to bring. It also features an exciting solo from Beck – great choice in guitar tone as well.
After listening to “Stillborn Black” and “Don’t Make Me Freak,” it’s obvious this group’s source of inspiration is powerful female punk groups. Instrumentally, there’s a lot of similarities to L7 and Bikini Kill but the group is really separated by Alvarez’s aggressive vocals. What I’m loving about this group is their ability to give the songs more depth by jumping into different sounds mid track. Instead of a constant barrage of punk, “Freak” jumps into a ballad with acoustic guitar work and ethereal singing from the group. We also hear how versatile Alvarez can be when she goes sultry before turning savage towards the end of the song.
“Flirts of Fire” is a nice change of pace from a latter, dark tone. We still hear influences of popular female punk groups though. It showcases an upbeat and major sound and we get to hear the talents of Mannario on drums. She’s clean, precise and gets to flaunt her ferocious speed with her wild single stroke rolls.
This group really checks all the boxes in the punk genre. “Serotonin” is a sluggish but powerful track with Nirvana’s slimy, grunge sound that made them so popular. “Serotonin” may be slow and lazy but it’s layered with airy backup vocals throughout that give it some more depth as well as valley and peaks of tempo changes and attitude. Did I mention Alvarez’s voice is really good?
“Surf Rock Song” is another key track. It’s a great blend of classic punk and (believe it or not) surf rock. It’s not something that’s been heard too often and it’s just fun to listen to. “All Around (Fucked Up)” is a great cap off for the album – it’s the best summary of the groups unique sound. This song perfectly blends their influences together and gives Alvarez a chance to show off both her sultry and intense side of her vocals that make this group stand out from the rest.
This album is going to yield a great deal of recognition from their community and in a live setting, will definitely rake in some new fans. So far, the only place to see them is on Saturday, December 1st in The Loft at City Winery. Tickets are $10 online, $12 day on the day of show. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for more info.
Key Tracks: Flirts of Fire, Surf Rock Song, All Around (All Fucked Up)
This past Halloween, Long Island based prog rockers Dino Skatepark has released the music video for “Boogeyman.” The punk band gets heavy in “Boogeyman,” with eleven different time changes, and style changes from punk to jazz and metal. The video was filmed by local videographer Sean Johnson with direction inspired by Dino Skatepark vocalist Dylan Belpanno and drummer Joe Quinn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqWA_XdgIWg
Dino Skatepark has released four singles, including “East Quogue” released in June 2018 and are in the process of releasing four new songs throughout the course of the next few months accompanied by music and lyric videos. Stay tuned to Dino Skatepark on Facebook for updates and upcoming shows.
Mike Gordon and his band released plans for Spring appearances around the east coast. The rapid-fire March tour will bring Phish bassist Mike Gordon and company to several venues in up and down the east coast, beginning in Atlanta and finishing up with a four night run in Cambridge, MA. General Admission tickets went on sale on Friday.
New York fans of the rock group will be excited to see that Mike Gordon will be performing in Buffalo at the Town Ballroom during the March Tour. For more info regarding the tour and ticket purchases visit Mike Gordon’s website. Current tour dates are below.
Mike Gordon Tour Dates:
March 8 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
March 9 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
March 10 – The Basement East – Nashville, TN
March 12 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
March 13 – Harvester Performance Center – Rocky Mount, VA
March 15 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
March 16 – Asbury Lanes – Asbury Park, NJ
March 17 – White Eagle Hall – Jersey City, NJ March 19 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
March 21-24 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA
Music is one of the most inclusive interests humans are able to appreciate and share. Genres expand to any identity or personality you could think of and easy accessibility make it available for any to enjoy. But what if you couldn’t hear? How do the deaf listen to music? Unfortunately some would say they simply don’t. However, this September those barriers were broken and deaf fans got to experience music on a level like never before. A collaboration between music group Palaye Royale and Music: Not Impossible Technology led to a test launch at their Las Vegas show.
The four year long technological advancement has been described as a five-piece device consisting of a vibro harness, two wristbands and two ankle bands. The device syncs with the live performance accordingly and each of the five areas vibrate along with it. The vibes have several settings which can be adjusted from low, medium or strong vibes and immerses the listener in a “surround body” sensation. In addition, a sign language interpreter was also involved on stage for the convenience of other hearing impaired attendees.
Check out a video below from Music: Not Impossible that exhibits the technology during its first real-world use.
Dubbed “The hottest band of 2018” by the English music press, Palaye Royale is entertainment at full volume. A combination of musical and artistic expression with immense popularity on all different streaming platforms. They have amassed over 30 million views on smash songs like “Higher,” “Don’t Quite Feel Right,” and “Ma Cherie.” This stands among the achievements of their albums titled Boom Boom Room (Side A) and this year’s highly anticipated follow-up Boom Boom Room (Side B). The Canadian fashion rock-trio is currently on an expansive tour all throughout the states and several parts of Canada. Tickets, both general and VIP, are on sale now.
The brothers will visit the Lost Horizon in Syracuse this Friday. See below for announced dates.
Palaye Royale Tour Dates:
Nov. 15 – Le Ministere – Montréal, QC Nov. 16 – The Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY
Nov. 17 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
Nov. 18 – Metro – Chicago, IL
Nov. 19 – Loving Touch – Detroit, MI
Nov. 20 – Rave – Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 21 – Skyway – Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 23 – The Rec Room – Edmonton, AB
Nov. 24 – The Legion – Calgary, AB
Nov. 26 – Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC
Nov. 27 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA
Nov. 28 – Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, OR
Nov. 30 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
Dec. 1 – Holy Diver – Sacramento, CA
Dec. 2 – Glasshouse – Pomona, CA
A favorite feature of the Colorado version of the winter music celebration, WinterWonderGrass Stratton has finally introduced its own iteration of the Grass After Dark Series with one month until the event kicks off.
Bluegrass fans new to the festival should be aware that festival tickets are not required for the Grass After Dark series. All of the late night shows are 21+ and are a separate purchase from the WWG day festival tickets. Grass After Dark tickets are limited and expected to sell out quickly. You can secure your spot at the event by purchasing your tickets at the WWG website.
The night series opens on the eve of WWG Stratton day festivities, with An Evening with the Infamous Stringdusters on Dec. 13 at Grizzly’s. The GAD series is hosted between two intimate mountainous locations for four nights of bluegrass in the village. Dec.r 15 is the only night attendees will have to choose between Grizzly’s and the Green Mountain Room in Black Bear Lodge at the Stratton Mountain Resort. The full GAD late night show schedule is down below:
GRIZZLY’S:
Thursday, Dec. 13 – An Evening with the Infamous Stringdusters
Saturday, Dec. 15 – Keller Williams and Fruition
Sunday, Dec. 16 – Billy Strings and Lindsay Lou
BLACK BEAR LODGE:
Friday, Dec. 14 – Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Saints & Liars
Saturday, Dec. 15 – The Kitchen Dwellers and Rumpke Mountain Boys
Tickets are still available for those interested in the full WinterWonderGrass community experience. Single day prices are currently $59 for Friday, $79 for Saturday, and $59 for Sunday. For the complete festival schedule and all ticket packages, visit the WinterWondergrass website for more information.
Beloved singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is featured in an upcoming Morrison Hotel Gallery entitled JONI. The exhibition is a collection of over a dozen photographers’ work who have captured her essence as a folk pioneer in addition to cultivating her artistic relationships of mutual respect and admiration.
The opening date for the photography exhibition and sale is Friday, Nov. 16. The event is being held at various locations: the Sunset Marquis Hotel location in Los Angeles, at the New York City gallery on Prince Street in SoHo and the gallery in Maui at Mick Fleetwood’s General Store and restaurant.
Morrison Hotel Gallery is proud to represent the world-class talents of a group of photographers who together have taken some of the most beautiful and timeless images of Joni Mitchell – an artist who many consider to be one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. — Morrison Hotel Gallery co-owner Peter Blachley
The photos range from Joel Bernstein’s gatefold Hijira album to Amalie R. Rothschild’s concert action shots to Norman Seef’s cover art and various sessions with Joni. Other photographers featuring Joni Mitchell include: Henry Diltz, Graham Nash, Baron Wolman, Bonnie Schiffman, Rowland Scherman, Ken Regan, Jay Blakesburg, David Gahr, and Guido Harari. These priceless images give life to Joni’s musical career from as earlier as 1967 at the Newport Folk Festival, through the late ’90s.
Aside from being the good friend of a great many gifted photographers, Joni Mitchell is remembered as one of the greatest musical artists of the late 20th century. Mitchell is well-known for her blues and jazz-infused style present in some of her long-praised folk tunes. She recently celebrated her 75th birthday earlier this month so this exhibition could not be more perfectly timed for fans to look back and honor the great Joni Mitchell.
