NYS Music 20​19

Author: Alain Clerine

  • HBO’s ‘The Apollo’ Traces the Theater’s Deep Roots Feeding Harlem Community

    Not many institutions mean as much to a community as The Apollo Theater means to Harlem. In The Apollo, academy and Emmy award-winning director—Roger Ross Williams, spends nearly two hours examining not only the musical importance of the theater but, also glimpses at the symbiotic relationship between The Apollo Theater and black community of Harlem.

    The world-famous musical hall—located on West 253rd street, between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. boulevard (formerly seventh ave.), and Frederick Douglas boulevard (eighth ave.)—is synonymous with the neighborhood.

    Williams, with the help of a number of A-list celebrities, historians and activists, chronicles the history of the theater. From its beginnings as a recognizable institution, under the ownership of Frank Schiffman and Leo Brecher, to the creation of its famous “amateur night at The Apollo.” Which has seen the likes of James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Dionne Warrick, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye, among many other legendary entertainers begin their career there.

    Aside from the well-deserved homage to iconic figures that have gotten their start on Apollo’s stage, Williams explores what The Apollo really meant to the inhabitants of Harlem, post-Harlem renaissance. During the era of segregation and Jim Crow, it was one of the few theatre institutions that would allow black people to pay their hard-earned money and enjoy a show. In fact, the residents grew such a love for the theater, that during the riots that preceded the end of Jim Crow, the building was surrounded by people who refused to let any damage happen, as recalled by Schiffman.

    These are just some of the fascinating tidbits that can be learned throughout this documentary. Accompanied by great scoring of 19th century hits, The Apollo juggles traveling through time to tell the story of the hundreds of culture-shifting performers that have passed through the building, while simultaneously giving a present day viewing of its arrangements. With exclusive footage to backstage rehearsals of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me, as well as present-day “amateur night” auditions. It is a recommended informative watch that does justice to the cultural landmark.

  • 2nd Generation Wu Release Debut Single

    The Wu Tang Clan legacy is alive and well, and is being carried on through the children of some of the iconic group’s more charismatic members. 2nd Generation Wu is comprised of iNTeLL (son of U-God), PXWER (son of Method Man), SUN GOD (son of Ghostface Killah), and Young Dirty Bastard (son of the late Old Dirty Bastard).

    While they each have their own respective solo careers and records, the second generation rappers have decided to come together to continue the legacy left by their fathers, and have taken the first step in doing so, with the release of “7.O.D.”

    The Jojo Pellegrino and J. Glaze produced record sees the younger Wu’s put their own spin on the Wu-Tang Clan’s most recognizable song, C.R.E.A.M.  The record, while an ode to the legends that preceded them, does not stop the young emcees from distinguishing themselves and making it their own.

    Aside from delivering their own personal lyrical warfare throughout the song, the famous line that Method Man employs on the original record, “Cash rules everything around me C.R.E.A.M., get the money, dollar, dollar bill y’all,” has been changed to, “God made everything around me, forget about the money, none of it is real y’all.” Showing that the new Wu is quite aware of their different upbringing, proving the content won’t always be the same. One thing that seems to be everlasting though, is the grittiness of the beats and the rhymes.

  • Salt City Blues Concert Returns to Syracuse

    The annual Great Salt City Blues Concert makes its return to Syracuse on Friday, Dec. 27at 7:30 p.m. The event—being held at The Palace Theatre—is a yearly extravaganza that celebrates great blues artists. This year’s theme is to pay tribute to five legends of the genre, where current musicians will be honoring greats of the past. The honorees consist of, Albert Collins, Freddy King, Big Mama Thornton, Slim Harpo and Memphis Minnie.

    The participating musicians include:

    Austin John Doody, Mark Gibson, Tas Cru, Mike DeLaney, Bill Barry, Pete McMahon, Ross Moe, Jerry Neely, Mikal Serafim, Diana Jacobs, Curtis Waterman, Bob Purdy, Ron Spencer, Cathy LaManna, Dunham Hall, Jimmy Wolf, Jane Zell and Dawna Zahn.

    Advance sale general admission tickets will be sold for $25 and can be purchased at Soundgarden in Armory Square & The Palace Commons, while tickets at the door on the night of the show will be $35.

    Tickets for the Salt City Blues Concert can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets.

  • Chuck D to be presented with the Woody Guthrie Prize

    Legendary hip-hop artist Chuck D – born, Carlton Douglas Ridenhour – will be honored with the Woody Guthrie Prize, on November 16, at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Queens-bred emcee is known for his politically conscious lyrics, which he’s used to help spread awareness about the many injustice’s minorities face.

    Ridenhour, an Adelphi University graduate, as well as the recipient of an honorary doctorate, began his rap career as a member of iconic hip-hop group, Public Enemy. Their 1988 sophomore album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, is not only considered a rap-classic, but standout records like “Rebel Without a Pause,” and “Night of the Living Basehead,” set the standard for politically conscious music.

    Throughout his career, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has made it a point to address social-political issues facing the African American community, whether it be through his solo work, his contributions to Public Enemy and rap-rock supergroup, Prophets of Rage (alongside members of Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine and Cypress Hill emcee, B-real).

    The Woody Guthrie Prize is awarded to artists who use their art to speak up for the less fortunate. It is presented in honor of American folk singer Woodrow Guthrie. Other recipients of the award include, gospel singer Mavis Staples, folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, and television producer, Norman Lear, who produced sitcoms such as, Sandford and Son, The Jeffersons, and Good Times.

    “We are honored to recognize Chuck’s work as he shines a light on social and cultural issues through his words and encourages us all to take action for equality and justice. We know that Woody would be rapping right alongside him as he speaks truth to power,” said Deana McCloud, director of the Woody Guthrie Center, according to the official website of the Woody Guthrie center.

    Tickets to see the presentation of the Woody Guthrie Prize and a discussion with Chuck D are available here.

  • Dr. Martens Music & Film Series Set to Take Place

    The first ever Dr. Martens Music & Film Series is set to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the Superchief Gallery, located on 1628 Jefferson Avenue in Queens. The event—set to begin at 7:00 p.m.—will consist of a group of performers and entertainers, sharing their stories of resilience and determination. They explore the trials and tribulations that come with a career in entertainment while realizing their own artistic vision in the music industry.

    Curated by New York-based filmmaker Vincent Martell and Los Angeles based filmmaker Erik Rojas, the series will consist of L.A. and NYC concert events as well as accompanying short documentary films that will provide an intimate look at the daily lives of working musicians.

    The confirmed artists for the Dr. Martens Music & Film Series include Brooklyn’s own JunglePussy—who is being promoted as the headline performer for the New York City portion of the event. Rapper De’wayne Jackson, female rock group L.A. Witch and labelmates Sad Girl, Los Angeles punk-rock quartet The Paranoyds, hip-hop soul duo OSHUN, Afro-Latinx group Combo Chimbita, New York-based R&B group Phony Ppl, punk band Death Valley Girls, singer-songwriter Samia and r&b songstress PJ.

    For those who wish to rsvp, it can be done so by emailing hello@primeprgroup.com.

  • Whitney Houston & The Notorious B.I.G Nominated for Rock Hall of Fame

    While in the midst of a change of leadership, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has nominated 20 new possible inductees for 2020. These latest nominees—which include posthumous nominations for legendary rapper, The Notorious B.I.G, as well as R&B and soul songstress Whitney Houston—are bridging a gap between genres, genders and race. Something departing Rock Hall chairman Jann Wenner has been criticized for in the past. A claim which he has refuted. “Musical achievements have got to be race-neutral and gender-neutral,” said Wenner, according to the New York Times.

    Nonetheless, incoming chairman John Sykes—the president of Entertainment Enterprises for the radio conglomerate iHeartMedia—has made it a point to embrace the new direction that music is heading into. “The important goal is to diversify the New York foundation board, with more women, more people of color and [become] a board that reflects the artists that are now being inducted,” said Sykes, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

    While new agendas are being set forward, traditional rock bands are still a mainstay of the Rock Hall of Fame. This year’s nominations include rock acts Motörhead, Judas Priest, Dave Matthews Band, Nine Inch Nails, the MC5, Thin Lizzy and T Rex, among others.

    After nominations, the committee in charge of electing inductees—made up of more than 1,000 historians, members of the music history and every living Rock Hall inductee—fill out ballots with the five highest vote getters making up that year’s class. Beginning in 2012, fans have been allowed to vote who they think belongs in the Rock Hall, with the top five fan vote-getters making up one ballot. Artists become eligible to be nominated 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording, according to the Rock Hall’s official website.

    The official inductees will be announced in January, with the ceremony to take place in May. The show will air at a later date on HBO.

  • Trey Anastasio Band Announces New Tour Dates for 2020

    Phish frontman Trey Anastasio has announced a new set of performances for the Trey Anastasio band for the 2020 calendar year. Following the traditional slate of Phish shows to begin the year, the veteran guitarist will be back on the road for a nine-city run.

    The tour will start off with a two-date stint in Port Chester before heading out west for four consecutive dates, finishing off in the South with shows in Texas and Louisiana.

    After the official announcement, pre-sale tickets were made available and the rest go on sale for the general public on Oct.11.

    Tickets can be purchased via Anastasio’s website.

    The Trey Anastasio Band’s full list of tour dates can be found below:

    Jan. 10 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
    Jan. 11 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
    Jan. 16 – The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA
    Jan. 17 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
    Jan. 18 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
    Jan. 21 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
    Jan. 24 – ACL Live at Moody Theatre – Austin, TX
    Jan. 25 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
    Jan. 26 – Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX
    Jan. 28 – The Tobin Center – San Antonio, TX
    Jan. 31 – The Civic Theatre – New Orleans, LA
    Feb. 1 – The Civic Theatre – New Orleans, LA

  • Jann Wenner Steps Down from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    It’s the end of an era as Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine, will be stepping down from his role as chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The change will take effect on January 1, 2020, where he will be replaced by John Sykes, the current president of Entertainment Enterprises for radio giant, iHeartMedia.

    As Chairman, Wenner carried the responsibility of not only being the face of the Rock Hall, but the person who was blamed for perceived shortcomings, such as the lack of colored and women inductees. That burden will now fall upon Sykes, whom Jann Wenner himself nominated. “I just felt I had done what I set out to do… That it had been built, stabilized and become well financed and managed — and, after 30-plus years of running it, time for new energy, new ideas, a new generation,” Wenner said, according to the New York Times.

    In 1983, Wenner aided in the founding of the Rock Hall, along with Ahmet Ertegun, Bruce Springsteen manager Jon Landau, attorney Suzan Evans, and record executives Seymour Stein and Bob Krasnow, and has served as its chairman since 2006 following Ertegun’s passing.

    The institution began inducting honorees in 1986 and a few months later, Cleveland was selected as the permanent home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Throughout its history, there have been 330 inductees, comprised of esteemed artists, producers, and music executives.

    Wenner is leaving behind a strong legacy, according to the Rock Hall’s website: “the Rock Hall had a total impact of $199 million in business sales in Cuyahoga County. Visitors to the Rock Hall spent an estimated $127.4 million in 2017, averaging a daily spend of $349,000, both on-site and at other businesses in the County.”

  • Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival Returns this Weekend

    The annual Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival (DBAF) is making its way back to town this weekend from Friday, Oct. 4 until Sunday, Oct. 6. The festivities—brought to you by not-for-profit organization, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership—will be showcasing artists and art institutions that call the Brooklyn Cultural District their home. The Plaza at Ashland is the host for the event, located at Flatbush and Lafayette avenue—downtown Brooklyn’s newest public space in the heart of the Brooklyn cultural district. Artists and art organizations will be offering free classes, tours, and other free outdoor programming, with performances and showings also scheduled.

    Each day of the festival contains specific activities for the public to enjoy. The itinerary is as follows:

    • On Friday, the festivities kick-off at 5:00 p.m., with a dance party with DJ collective Soul Summit Music and a performance by Soul Tigers Marching Band.
    • The following day, officially recognized as DBAF Community Day, festivities will run from 11:00 a.m. until 6:55 p.m. Activities will range from a drum circle, dance classes, workshops with instrumentalists, conversation with DBAF leaders and to end the night, there will be a showing of the Spike Lee semi-autobiographical cult-classic, Crooklyn.
    • To cap off the festival weekend on Sunday, activities will run from 12-5 p.m. With live dance, hip-hop and story-telling performances and to end this year’s BDAF festivities, Brooklyn’s own and hip-hop legend, Talib Kweli sets the backdrop for the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival Finale. Along with a pop-up of Nkiru Books, Brooklyn’s oldest African-American bookstore.

    For more information on the Brooklyn Downtown Arts Festival visit their website.

  • Capital Records Live! Returns with ‘Dark Blue Sea’

    Starting on Thursday, Oct. 3, Capital Records Live! will be returning to the stage with another installment of this unique entertainment series. Designed as a way to display the Capital Region’s musical talent, Capital Records Live! began in spring of 2018 with a tribute to the Beatles and continued that fall with a celebration of music from 1969.

    Taking place at Schenectady’s GE Theatre at Proctors, with this latest installment—Dark Blue Sea—Capital Records Live! gives its interpretation of the phrase, “Together, I lost myself with you.” Teaming with Collar City-based collaborative dance company, Synergia Dance Project, this will be a three-act narrative dance performance that will bring film and movement to the stage, in addition to the musical performances of pop-rock band, Dark Honey, Eddie Award-winners Girl Blue, and indie folk-pop duo, The Sea The Sea.

    With narratives from Chromoscope Pictures and artistic director/choreographer Nadine Medina, this production will explore the concept of loss. Combining the abstraction of dance with the raw power of live music and stunning multimedia visuals. The audience will get to experience live performance in a new, innovative matter.

    https://youtu.be/jNq60anCuzk

    Tickets for Capital Records Live! Dark Blue Sea, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, are available at the Box Office at Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady; by phone at 518.346.6204; and online at the Proctors website.

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