Let’s Be Leonard will be releasing their sophomore album Static in July, and they’ve shared a live preview of some tracks that will be on their next studio effort. The recording comes from Caffe Lena and was produced by F. Cavone Productions.
Video setlist: Balloons*, Comet* -> High N’ Dry, How Do You Fall in Love, Most Days*
*appears on Static
Luke Cornwell’s Wallop Dollop catches your attention from the get-go. When you’re honing your songs in café’s like Cornwell has been doing, you have to find a way to be noticed above the din of cappuccino machines and the drone of conversation. This debut EP showcases Cornwell’s flair for theatrics, pairing playful storytelling with inventive acoustic arrangements.
Wallop Dollop begins with the spunky ditty “Good Morning Sunshine.” It’s an invitation to spend the day on a rollicking romp: taking a spin on the mall carousel, hanging at the park, and eating breakfast foods all day long. It’s a little earworm that I catch myself humming when I’m making coffee. I could almost imagine it in a film or television show, like when Bowling for Soup did the theme song for Disney’s Phineas and Ferb. It would even hold up next to a Moldy Peaches song on the soundtrack to the movie Juno.
Cornwell combines upbeat guitar melodies with punchy percussion from Noah Boss to create a sound that is a cross between art rock and punk folk. The lyrics are refreshingly whimsical, but also contain subtle tongue-in-cheek commentaries. Cornwell could have used almost any object to finish the line “Where is my…” A Google search I conducted suggested finishing the sentence with the words tax refund, mind, phone, or super suit. Instead, Cornwell chose the words oxygen mask, making the song a story about anxiety and a frantic, panicked search for his breathing apparatus. The anti-love ballad “Paint Thinner” recounts a laundry list of things Cornwell would rather do than be with the subject of the song.
Overall, Wallop Dollop is a study in contrasts. It’s punk and it’s folk. It’s sincere and it’s ironic. But one thing is for sure, it’s never boring!
Wallop Dollop was recorded in Rochester by Alexander Eschbach at Light 40 Studios. It features Cornwell on vocals and guitar, Noah Boss on drums and background vocals, and Amanda Kuzar on kazoo. Kuzar is also the one throwing blue goo at Cornwell on the album cover, which was photographed by Jason Ackerman. It’s available to stream on Spotify and purchase on Bandcamp. True to the DIY art aesthetic, a limited run of hand painted CD’s are also on sale via Bandcamp. Visit Luke Cornwell’s website for more information and updates.
Key Tracks: Good Morning Sunshine, Oxygen Mask, Paint Thinner
Update 02/04/2018: Capital Region fundraiser to help benefit the Center for Disability Services, #518Gives, ran another successful campaign in 2018 raising money, while setting a new record for the Center and it’s several other divisions helping to bring care the Capital Region including Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center, Life Quality Solutions Incubator, Prospect Center in Queensbury and St. Margaret’s Center in Albany.
Taking place at the Radisson Hotel in Colonie, the fundraiser that included New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, New York Giants tight end Evan Engram, Sawyer Fredericks, Christina Kokonis-Viggers, and several other local area acts help raise $2,712,015. Children from the center had a special card waiting for Sawyer when he arrived at the event thanking him.
Deputy Executive Director of the Center’s Foundation, Anne Schneider Costigan, has this to say about the Centers plans for the rest of the calendar year “In 2018, we are focusing on achievements through innovation. The Center’s dedicated staff and unique programs enable people with disabilities to find new ways to move and communicate by using technology and specialized equipment. The community shares in this success and has again responded with generous support. A big thank you from everyone at the Center, the place where people get better at life.”
The center is still accepting donations online, by phone at 518-944-2121, or by texting the phrase 518Gives to 41444.
Original Article Follows:
This year’s #518Gives annual fundraiser to benefit the Center for Disability Services, will feature local talent along with New York Giants tight end Evan Engram, and new manager of the New York Yankees, Aaron Boone. The event is this Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Radisson Hotel, located at 205 Wolf Road in Colonie. The event will be open to the public and televised from noon to 7 p.m. on WXXA/FOX23.
Season 8 winner of NBC’s “The Voice,” Sawyer Fredericks, will return to the fundraiser for a second time, performing at 5:40 p.m. and 6 p.m. He won season 8 as member of team Pharrell (Williams). The singer/songwriter from Fultonville will play songs from his third album Hide Your Ghost.
Other local talent appearing at the benefit fundraiser includes internet sensation Christina Kokonis-Viggers, whose work has seen more than 15 million views on the web. Other locals taking part are vocalist Jenna Sue, Kris Coleman, Kelsey Dodd, Jacqueline Goldstein, EJ Ray, Capital Harmony A Cappella, that will include 14 members from three area high schools, Olivia Gilbert, Donald Hyman, singer Arlethia Jones, the Electric City Chorus, and father and daughter duo, Darryl and Alex Daily. Stockbridge 3 will kick off the event with “What A Wonderful World.
A singing group from the Center for Disability Services adult program, The Expressions, will also perform, and the Center’s adult actors will perform a scene from “Beauty & the Beast.”
For those looking to help support this outstanding cause, there are several ways to donate. You can text the phrase 518Gives to 41444, or donate online at the Center’s website. Call one of the several operators that will be standing by at 518-459-7070 to make a pledge that day, or simply show up to the Radisson Hotel in person and donate.
For more information about the event, head to the Center’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and at #518Gives online. All proceeds from the fundraiser support the Center and its divisions: Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center, Life Quality Solutions Incubator, Prospect Center in Queensbury and St. Margaret’s Center in Albany.
Jack White is building enthusiasm for his 2018 tour by releasing a track from his upcoming third solo album Boarding House Reach, which comes out in March.
“Corporation” will be available for fans to download digitally worldwide on Friday, Jan. 26 at midnight. Tour tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.
White is giving away a physical CD copy of the new album with every ticket purchased online for the North American shows. Fans will have the option to upgrade the CD to the standard black vinyl LP.
Jack White’s Facebook page released a 25 second preview of the track, check it out below.
https://www.facebook.com/jackwhite/videos/1828260743873817/
Boarding House Reach is the first all-new album in nearly four years, according to a press release. The album will be released Friday, March 23. Fans can pre-order the standard vinyl LP, CD and digital format beginning Friday, Jan. 26. Fans who purchase the digital album pre-order will also receive downloads of three songs – “Corporation,” “Connected by Love” and “Respect Commander.”
White’s tour travels across North America and Europe for 42 shows from April 19 to Aug. 23.
The tour includes several music festivals that Jack White will headline. North American festivals include: Atlanta’s Shaky Knees; Boston Calling 2018; New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; and The Governors Ball in New York City. Jack White will also headline some festivals in Europe: Rock Werchter in Belgium; Mad Cool Festival in Spain; NOS Alive in Portugal; and the Ilosaarirock Festival in Finland.
White released the third single “Corporation” from Boarding House Reach via YouTube Friday morning. You can view that here.
Check out Jack White’s website for more information.
Jack White 2018 Tour
April 19 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
April 20 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
April 21 – 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI
April 23 – Baxter Arena – Omaha, NE
April 24 – Providence Medical Center Amphitheater – Bonner Springs, KS
April 25 – Chaifetz Arena – St. Louis, MO
April 27 – Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX
April 29 – Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX
April 30 – Revention Music Center – Houston, TX
May 1 – Revention Music Center – Houston, TX
May 2 – Austin360 Amphitheater – Austin, TX
May 4 – 6 – Shaky Knees Music Festival – Atlanta, GA *
May 6 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, LA *
May 26 – Boston Calling Music Festival – Boston, MA *
May 27 – Brewery Ommegang – Cooperstown, NY
May 29 – The Anthem – Washington, DC
June 1 – Governors Ball Music Festival – New York, NY *
June 4 – Express Live! Outdoor Amphitheater – Columbus, OH
June 6 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland, OH
June 7 – Dome Arena – Rochester, NY
June 8 – Artpark Mainstage Theater – Lewiston, NY
June 9 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
June 27 – Hammersmith Apollo – London, UK
June 28 – Hammersmith Apollo – London, UK
July 2 – AFAS Live – Amsterdam, Netherlands
July 3 – L’Olympia – Paris, France
July 4 – L’Olympia – Paris, France
July 7 – Rock Werchter – Werchter, Belgium *
July 12 – 13 – Mad Cool – Madrid, Spain *
July 14 – NOS Alive – Lisbon, Portugal *
July 15 – Ilosaaririock Festival – Joensuu, Finland *
Aug. 6 – The Armory – Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 8 – 1st Bank Center – Broomfield, CO
Aug. 9 – SaltAir – Salt Lake City, UT
Aug. 11 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Portland, OR
Aug. 12 – Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
Aug. 13 – WAMU Theatre – Seattle, WA
Aug. 15 – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, CA
Aug. 19 – Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
Aug. 21 – Viejas Arena – San Diego, CA
Aug. 22 – Comerica Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 23 – The Chelsea @ The Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, NV
* Denotes festival
Greensky Bluegrass returned to The Egg in Albany, NY on January 24 for their first East Coast show of 2018. The Michigan band was joined by Billy Strings, who opened the show with a selection from his 2017 album, Turmoil & Tinfoil. This sold-out crowd was treated to two sets of fantastic bluegrass on this “Casual Wednesday” with a number of egg jokes thrown in for good measure.
The Quintet from Kalamazoo opened their first set with “Past My Prime,” which was greeted with a thunderous applause from the crowd. They followed that up with “Bringing In The Georgia Mail” and “Jaywalking.” Each featured a flurry of impressive solos with an eerie Dobro solo from Anders Beck. Both the band and the audience threw out egg jokes before and after launching into “Gumboots,” “Against the Days” and “Into the Rafters.” The bird jokes continued before starting “Reverend” and then following that with “Clinch Mountain Backstep.” The boys ended the set with “Nine Days” and fan-favorite, “Worried About The Weather.” This was the longest song of the set and received the loudest response from the fawning crowd.
The beer line quickly faded as the lights dimmed, signaling the start of a magnificent second set. “Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord” was the uplifting opener everyone needed to start dancing again. The highlight of the night was “All Four,” an 18 minute gem which featured a rousing jam that dazzled and amazed everyone in attendance. “What’s Left of the Night” was next and Michael Arlen Bont’s incredible banjo solo was spectacular. The band brought the jam down to an ephemeral lullaby before bringing it back up to finish the song and move into “Miss September.” This was the catchiest song of the night and Paul Hoffman really shined on Mandolin during this track.
Greensky slowed things down with a spacey intro into “Bottle Dry,’ whose roaring peak was followed by the frenetic “Radio Blues.” The band’s fingers were a blur as they played each verse of this toe-tapping hit. The Egg received even more compliments during an appropriate “Casual Wednesday.” Anders came out and said this was an “Eggs-quisite room that was really Grade-A” and the crowd couldn’t agree more. Without missing a beat, they were off like a shot with “Broke Mountain Breakdown.” After some bombastic back-and-forth playing, they broke into a wavy, ambient jam before they brought it all back together with an effect-laden scorcher of a solo on the pedal steel.
Things weren’t over yet as the band ended the second set with the Michael Jackson hit, “Beat It.” Mike Devol’s bass playing had everyone moving as this song got everyone out of their seats to end the set. As the crowd gave a standing ovation, Dave Bruzza welcomed Billy Strings out on stage to help with their encore. The audience went silent as all 8 players played an unplugged encore featuring the solemn “Tear Down The Grand Ole Opry” and the upbeat “Sunny Side Of The Mountain.”
Setlist via PhantasyTour
Set 1: Past My Prime, Bringing in the Georgia Mail, Jaywalking> Gumboots, Against the Days, Into the Rafters, Reverend> Clinch Mountain Backstep, Nine Days, Worried About the Weather
Set 2: Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord (Rock Where Moses Stood), All Four, What’s Left of the Night> Miss September> Bottle Dry, The Radio Blues, Casual Wednesday, Broke Mountain Breakdown> Funk Jam> Beat It
Encore: Tear Down The Grand Ole Opry* Sunny Side of the Mountain*
* w/ Billy Strings Band, acoustic at the lip of the stage
Strangefolk wrapped up their three-night run of New England on Sunday, January 21 at The Warehouse at FTC in Fairfield, CT. With Dave Diamond Band opening up the night, the crowd filtered into the 500 cap room early, crowding to the rail for Strangefolk, who continue to have a dedicated following more than 20 years since they started at UVM in Burlington. The group recently recorded a new song, and first since 1998, as the title track of the new Reid Genauer & Folks upcoming album Conspire to Smile.
Setlist: Sinner, Fountain, Utterly Addled, Furnace, 40 Reasons, In Deep, Folka Polka -> Alaska, Elixir, Faces, What Say You?, So Well, Take It Easy on Me, Rachel, Lines & Circles, Sidestep Blues
Encore: Westerly -> Lay The Dust -> Westerly
Umphrey’s McGee celebrated 20 years together as a band over January 17-19 with a trio of shows at The Beacon Theater in New York City, alongside stops at Sirius/XM Studios and The Cutting Room to promote the group’s latest release It’s Not Us.
For the January 19 show at The Beacon, Umphrey’s added songs off It’s Not Us – “Remind Me,” “Speak Up,” “Looks,” and “The Silent Type” – into a setlist that featured a “JaJunk” sandwich in set 2, a monster version of “Hurt Bird Bath” (see video below) and Talking Heads’ “Making Flippy Floppy” with guitarist Oz Noy joining in.
Set 1: There’s No Crying In Mexico > Remind Me, Anchor Drops > Day Nurse > White Man’s Moccasins > Speak Up > Mulche’s Odyssey, Making Flippy Floppy[1]
Set 2: JaJunk > Push the Pig[2], Looks, Hurt Bird Bath, 2nd Self, Conduit, The Silent Type > JaJunk
Encore: Bad Friday
[1] with Oz Noy on guitar and Brendan on percussion and keys
[2] with Jake on keys; with Lose Yourself (Eminem) jam
On night 2 of the run, Umphrey’s dusted off part of Guns n Roses’ “Paradise City” inside of “Utopian Fir” (see video below) for the first time in nearly 1500 shows. Acoustic versions of “Memories of Home” and “You and You Alone” followed “Fir,” and were joined by the horns of Peter Apfelbaum (TAB, saxophone) and Mike Maher (Snarky Puppy, trumpet) for a vigorous combo of “Attachments” and Sturgill Simpson’s “Call to Arms.” Set 2 was a gift that kept on giving, with little room to breathe amid “Wappy Sprayberry” > “Wife Soup,” “August” and “The Linear” > “In the Kitchen.”
Set 1: You Got the Wrong Guy > Spires > Walletsworth, Utopian Fir > Paradise City[1] > Utopian Fir > Memories of Home[2], You & You Alone[2], Whistle Kids, Attachments[3], Call to Arms[3]
Set 2: Maybe Someday, Wappy Sprayberry > Wife Soup, In The Kitchen > Little Gift, August, The Linear > In The Kitchen
Encore: Hajimemashite > Pay the Snucka[4]
[1] one verse
[2] with Jake and Brendan on acoustic guitars
[3] with Peter Apfelbaum on saxophone and Mike Maher on trumpet
[4] with Eruption (Van Halen) tease
For the 20th anniversary show, Brendan Bayliss spoke from the heart from the stage, opening the show up by saying,
“On behalf of the band and the crew, I just want to say thank you for the last 20 years. It’s still very surreal to us, and because of you our dreams became our reality, so thank you so much. Tonight we’re going to take you backwards through time over the last 20 years. We’re going to play a song that we debuted each year. We’ll start with something new and end with something old. And we hope you like it.”
And with that, Umphrey’s McGee journeyed 20 years in reverse, starting with the recent debut “Half Delayed” and ending with their classic “All in Time.” In between, the band let loose with fan favorites and heavy hitters that have been developed into jam vehicles over the past 20 years, a dream setlist for Umphreaks and an impressive way to mark the start of their third decade performing together.
Set 1: Half Delayed, North Route > Draconian, Similar Skin[1] > No Diablo, Comma Later > Puppet String[2] > No Comment > 1348, Gulf Stream
Set 2: The Floor[1] > Eat[1] > Higgins[3], Bridgeless[1] > Ocean Billy > The Triple Wide > Ringo[4] > 40’s Theme
Encore: All Things Ninja[5] > All In Time[6]
[1] unfinished
[2] incomplete
[3] with Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (The Rolling Stones) jam
[4] with Voodoo Child (Jimi Hendrix) teases; unfinished
[5] intro only
[6] with Divisions, 10th Grade, and Nachos for Two teases; also with Thunderstruck (AC/DC) tease
Setlists via Allthings Umphreys
Since their subtle debut at Fare Thee Well and their official debut at 2016’s Lockn Festival, Circles Around the Sun has been delighting crowds across the country. The band finished their 2018 January tour in Port Chester on Saturday, January 20 after a sold-out show at the Brooklyn Bowl the night before. The band’s third visit to the Brooklyn venue featured ‘Hola!’ as an opener and the Stella Blue Band, a Capitol Theater favorite, opening Saturday’s show with special guest drummer, Josh Dates from the Reflections.
The quartet began their first ever Capitol Theater show with the first two songs from their 2015 album, Interludes For The Dead. The crowd gathered close as the band dove into ’Gilbert’s Groove’ and ‘Hallucinate A Solution’ before launching into their new song, ‘Chuck.’ This new track starts with a laid-back groove and plenty of blissful keys from keyboardist, Adam MacDougall. He and guitarist Neal Casal play off of each other while bassist Dan Horne leads them through each melodic key change in this fantastic new material.
They continued the set with ‘Scarlotta’s Magnolias’ and ‘Saturday’s Children’ before ending with crowd-favorite, ‘Farewell Franklins.’ This closer had everyone smiling as much as drummer Mark Levy, who happily kept beat and grinned all night long. Neal and the boys ended the night and the tour with ‘Ginger Says’ and thanked everyone who came out before taking off. This may be the end of their first run of 2018, but the band has already said they will have more dates for us soon.
So, what do you do when your actively touring band goes on a hiatus? If you’re Scott Hannay (Mister F), you play video games, or at least video game music… or both. Scott Hannay Plays Video Games – Multiplayer Edition, is a unique twist on the 8-Bit music that so many gamers hold dear. Hannay is bringing five of his favorite musicians as part of his new project to The Jewel in Manchester, NH this Saturday, and The Monopole in Plattsburgh on February 23.
Scott Hannay Plays Video Games Multiplayer Edition features a rotating cast of video game loving, musically inclined masters all trying to level up. Hannay handles keys duties and will will be joined by fellow Mister F band mate Matt Pickering on drums, guitarists Matt Dempsey (Cosmic Dust Bunnies) and Andrew Carton (Chromatropic), percussionist Josh West (Annie in the Water/Lucid) and bassist Billy Comstock (Annie in the Water, Twiddle).
Over the summer Mister F performed what became known as the “Game Genie” set at the Night Lights Music Festival. While working on that project, Hannay began to perform a series of solo shows, showcasing his 8-bit prowess. With Mister F on hiatus, Hannay wanted to expand the idea to include a full band that would change players with each new city or performance.
“I put a post out on Facebook to sort of see if the idea would grow legs, and it did,” Hannay told NYS Music. “I had a number of people reach out immediately about wanting to be involved.
The Multiplayer Edition was debuted on Jan 19 at Toads Place in New Haven, CT. The set featured Comstock, Dempsey and Cosmic Dust Bunnies drummer Eric Hyland.
As a young boy, Hannay cut his teeth on his family’s piano by gingerly plunking out notes to his favorite video game tunes. By his teen years, he was obsessed with MIDI files, bought some cheap software and began transcribing video game soundtracks like Mega Man 1, 2, 3, Contra, Mario 1, and Zelda 1 . Transcription gave way to recording and recording ultimately led Hannay to learn guitar, bass and keys. All of which gave way to Hannay becoming a working a musician.
Hannay’s skills behind the keys has led to sit-ins with a laundry list of artists including Umphrey’s McGee, Twiddle, Dopapod, Turkuaz, Pink Talking Fish, Aqueous, The Werks, Mihali and Frends, Particle, and Kung Fu.
And while Hannay’s history of video games and 8-bit artistry indicates the Scott Hannay Plays Video Games project is a literal dream come true, Hannay noted in a Solitaire Cash review that he’s excited by the reaction of his fellow SHPVG players.
“One of my favorite things about this, that I discovered last week at Toad’s Place, is how much fun the others are having, ” Hannay said, ” I know how much I love playing this stuff, and how much video game music has meant to my musical growth since I was young. It also breaks off a piece of childhood and brings it right to the forefront – with a full band, that part of the experience is made quite obvious.”
Scott Hannay Plays Video Games – Solo Edition is also slated to stop in Plattsburgh, NY on February 23 at Monopole. Tickets for this Saturday’s show at Jewel Music Venue will be available at the door for $10. Show starts at 8pm and is 21+.
The 7th Annual Wintercourse was held at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on Saturday, January 20, 2018 on a warm and wonderful winter night filled with smiles, hugs, and good music.
Space Carnival brought the heat early, showcasing their dance laden jams as well as their heavier prog side, ending on a high note of their newly released single “Queen of Cups.” Six year Wintercourse veterans Cousin Earth played a set stacked full of high energy originals and unique covers including a throwback to Saturday Night Live’s “Natalie Portman Rap” and the Disney after school classic, “Tale Spin.” Headliner Bella’s Bartok puts on a show like no other, with a high energy dance party of klesmer and punk that was absolutely magnificent.
Teddy Midnight took the stage as the final act of Wintercourse 2018, delivering a set filled with surprises. The group brought up Tara Lawton and Joey Calfa of Cousin Earth, with Tara singing on “American Boy” by Estelle (complete with rapped verses by band members) and Calfa to ripping up the Teddy classic “Turkish Silva.” Bringing their trademark live house vibes, they covered Daft Punk’s “Face to Face” as well as a heavily improvised New Deal/Daft Punk Medley to round out the night.