NYS Music 20​19

Author: Pete Mason

  • Premiere: Watch Wild Adriatic perform “Cooperstown” at Musikfest 2018

    Saratoga Springs’ Wild Adriatic performed at last year’s MusikFest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and thanks to C&C Media Group, we present “Cooperstown” in a full 360′ experience.

    To view the video, watch on YouTube or put on your Virtual Reality headset using your tablet or smartphone. 360 videos are best watched in 1440p on a tablet or mobile device, but are available up to 4K! If you have Google Cardboard, click on the Cardboard icon in the lower right.

    This 360 experience comes courtesy of C&C Media Group, Wild Adriatic and Musikfest. Subscribe to C&C Media Group to see the full show!

  • NYS Music’s March Madness: Round 1

    It’s that time of year again – sure there are a few dozen basketball games happening over the next few weeks, but its also time for NYS Music’s version of March Madness! In the past, we have looked at up and coming bands from around the state, for a friendly competition that introduces these rising artists to the NYS Music audience.

    This year, we look to the past and present for our field of 64 famous New York musicians and artists from all corners of the Empire State. Frank Sinatra, Jay-Z, Paul Simon, Arlo Guthrie, Cab Calloway, Billy Joel, KISS, Anthrax, Neil Diamond and Lou Reed are all included, as well as more recent artists breaking through such as Sean Rowe and Aqueous.

    This year’s field is also a great way to learn about some artists who hail from NY that you might not have known about. Yes, Lana Del Rey is from Lake Placid, Anthrax was formed in Queens, Rick James and Goo Goo Dolls call the Queen City of Buffalo home, Ra Ra Riot are Syracuse University graduates, and State Champs calls the Capital District home.

    Big thanks to this year’s sponsors, Buffalo Iron Works, Anthology, TIP the Band, and Funk n Waffles.

    Voting for Round 1 is open until midnight on Wednesday, March 20. You can also vote on each bracket on Twitter, and we will combine all votes together ahead of Round 2, which starts on Thursday, March 21 at Noon.

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  • Say it Ain’t So, Albany loves Cuomo? Weezer and Pixies take on Times Union Center

    Weezer and The Pixies arrived in Albany on Thursday, March 14 with a full tank of gas and a show that will make you remember why you sang along to all these songs in college. Of course, Weezer is still cranking out new material, with The Black Album released earlier this month, and an album of covers in The Teal Album. Combine this with all the classic Weezer you could possibly ask for and impressive stage production that traces the evolution of the band, from the early days in the garage to the arena rock they unleashed tonight, and you have the makings of a fantastic performance from Rivers Cuomo and company.

    Kicking off the set with a barbershop quartet version of “Buddy Holly” in front of the draped stage, “My Name is Jonas” started the set proper with a Happy Days themed high school stage setup revealed. Pinkerton’s  “Pink Triangle” followed for a taste of early Weezer to please the eager crowd of Gen-X-ers. The first of five covers, Weezer’s take on “Africa” by Toto, might be the only time you sing this 80s hit with thousands of others, without a hint of shame. During the intro for “The Sweater Song,” the stage morphed into a garage setup, which served well for the next sequence of songs:  “Pork and Beans” (featuring a VHS tape recording of early Weezer antics), The Turtles “Happy Together” with a segment of Green Day’s “Longview” seamlessly worked in, the apropos “In the Garage,” “Buddy Holly” and the debut of The Black Album’s “High as a Kite.”

    As the stage underwent its final transformation, Rivers Cuomo hopped in a boat-on-wheels that brought him to the opposite end of the arena, where he serenaded the crowd with acoustic versions of “El Scorcho” and “No Scrubs.” As he was wheeled back around the arena towards the stage, a darkened stage welcomed Cuomo back for Jane’s Addiction’s “Up the Beach” and sing-alongs of “Beverly Hills” and “Island in the Sun.” To close the set, a-ha’s “Take on Me,” “Perfect Situation” and “Hash Pipe” closed the set, the latter with flames shooting up around the stage. For the encore, Weezer gave a sampling of songs from mid 00’s ((“If You’re Wondering if I Want you to) I Want you to”), and the 90’s (“Surf Wax America” and “Say it Ain’t So”) for a career spanning performance of nearly two dozen songs over 90 minutes.

    Weezer setlist: Buddy Holly*, My Name is Jonas, Pink Triangle, Africa, You Give Your Love to me Softly, Undone – The Sweater Song, Pork and Beans, Happy Together->Longview->Happy Together, In the Garage, Buddy Holly, High as a Kite, El Scorcho^, No Scrubs^, Up the Beach, Beverly Hills, Island in the Sun, Take on Me, Perfect Situation, Hash Pipe

    Encore: (If You’re Wondering if I want you to) I want you to, Surf Wax America, Say it Ain’t So

    *Barbershop quartet version ^Rivers solo acoustic

    UK rockers Basement kicked off the night with a short set of generic rock anthems with a stark 90s influence. The band, particularly animated lead singer Andrew Fisher, all had great energy to start the night but the sound fell flat on a limited crowd, still making their way into the Times Union Center.

    Pixies followed with Paz Lenchantin subbing for Kim Deal and her voice and presence were well suited for a band well into their fourth decade. Guitarist Joey Santiago nailed riffs throughout the 22 song set with Black Francis leading the way. The Pixies brought out deep cuts as well as familiar songs (thanks in part to ad placements) including “Gigantic,” “Monkey Gone to Heaven” and the classic “Where is my Mind?” At times it felt like Pixies would be better suited to a setting like The Palace, or even The Egg. They made a great pairing with Weezer, but an intimate evening with Pixies would be a true treat for fans who grew up on this incredibly influential group.

    Pixies setlist: Gouge Away, Vamos, Crackity Jones, Gigantic, Wave of Mutilation, Death Horizon, Here Comes Your Man, Tame, Rock Music, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Classic Masher, No. 13 Baby, Caribou, Planet of Sound, Hey, Broken Face, Bone Machine, Cactus, Debaser, In the Witching Hour, Something Against You, Where is My Mind?

  • Bad Luck release “Sheep Song” off upcoming EP ‘Drug Phase’

    Brooklyn’s Bad Luck has announced a brand new EP Drug Phase to be released on March 29 via Take This To Heart Records, and has released the infectious new single “Sheep Song.” Listen below and on all platforms here.

    Bad Luck. started out as a Long Island solo project before the band came together in Florida in 2014, when they released Cold Bones and Noise in Your Head the following year. These two compact yet abrasive pop-punk releases placed nostalgia and neuroses on the same plane. “Sheep Song” showcases the dynamics that made 2014 “Cold Bones” LP from Bad Luck an underground hit. The whole song is a chorus that will have you singing ba-ba-ba in under 3 minutes. 

    bad luck sheep song

    Anchored by brothers Dominick and Joe Fox and colored in by a rotating cast of touring friends, Bad Luck.’s second wind offers the same great pop hooks chased with hard-hitting backdrops that originally captured crowds’ hearts.  Having since returned to their home base and their homegrown mentality, Bad Luck. is looking to add to their short but sweet legacy and score a longer winning streak. They embark on a four-show tour later this month.

    bad luck sheep song


  • New York Series: Billy Joel “New York State of Mind”

    Among the songs that celebrate New York City, “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel, from his 1976 album Turnstiles, has become a fan favorite in regular rotation at his concerts, in particular at Madison Square Garden. While the song was never released as a single or a hit for that matter – Turnstiles only made it as high as 122 in the Billboard 200 – its place in Joel’s catalog and hearts of fans is firmly in place.

    Rather than head down south or out west, Joel sings about preferring to take a Greyhound down the Hudson River Line.  Joel discussed “New York State of Mind” in an interview with Howard Stern in 2010, saying that he wrote the song in 15 minutes on a bus headed Upstate to his then-home of Highland Falls. While there is no Hudson Line for Greyhound Buses, the route along I-87 follows the Hudson River, and along the other side of the river would be the Metro North Hudson Line, connecting Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station.  Perhaps Joel combined these two in order to preserve a oneness of New York’s mass transit and treat that journey like he was staying local, and for the 20-25 million who live within an hour of the Big Apple.

    Joel longs for New York in “New York State of Mind,” having lived in California for the past three years. With a return home, Joel felt pride that can be felt in the emotion behind the lyrics.

    New York State of Mind

    Billy was born in the Bronx in 1969, grew up in Hicksville, and is one of the most famous products of Long Island. His father and mother emigrated to New York from Germany via Switzerland and Cuba during World War Two and settled in Brooklyn before moving to Long Island after Billy was born. Billy’s father returned to Europe, settling in Vienna, Austria where Billy has a famous half brother Alexander who is a classical conductor and most recently conducted the Staatstheater and Staatsorchester in Braunschweig, Germany from 2007-2014.

    Billy got his start playing piano in high school, eventually dropping out despite being a good student due to a lack of credits his senior year. He was quoted in Hank Bordowitz’s biography Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man (2006) that rather than finish his credits in summer school, he would begin a career in music. “I told them, ‘To hell with it. If I’m not going to Columbia University, I’m going to Columbia Records, and you don’t need a high school diploma over there.’ (He later graduated in 1992 after submitting papers to the school board). From there, Joel joined the Echoes, the Hassles and finally the duo Atilla with Hassles drummer Jon Small. After an affair with Small’s wife, whom Joel later married, he signed with Family Records for his 1971 debut Cold Spring Harbor.  

    Billy Joel most memorably performed “New York State of Mind” at The Concert for New York City, the October 2001 benefit for New York City Fire and Police Departments and first responders following the terrorist attacks on New York City on September 11. In 2012, Joel hit an emotional nerve once again, performing the song at 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief, held at Madison Square Garden on December 12. During the song he changed the lyrics to include Breezy Point (Queens) and Oceanside (Nassau) to great cheers from the crowd.

    The influence of New York is present throughout the lyrics of “New York State of Mind,” as the trip back to his home state moved Billy so much to pen the song in 15 minutes. His state of mind is New York-centric, as is the beginning of his career, and arguably his best years are found while living in the Empire State. Billy is a New York staple, a musician infinitely tied to New York City, Madison Square Garden, Long Island and Nassau Coliseum through many songs and albums, but none is more connected than “New York State of Mind.”

    “New York State of Mind” lyrics

    Some folks like to get away,
    Take a holiday from the neighborhood
    Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood
    But I’m takin’ a Greyhound on the Hudson River line
    I’m in a New York state of mind
    I’ve seen all the movie stars in their fancy cars and their limousines
    Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
    I know what I’m needin’, and I don’t want to waste more time
    I’m in a New York state of mind
    It was so easy livin’ day by day
    Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
    But now I need a little give and take
    The New York Times, the Daily News
    It comes down to reality, and it’s fine with me cause I’ve let it slide
    I don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside
    I don’t have any reasons
    I left them all behind
    I’m in a New York state of mind
    Oh yeah

  • Antibalas 20th Anniversary Tour brings band back to Brooklyn

    Antibalas return to their Brooklyn roots this weekend for their 20th anniversary tour’s final U.S. shows. They’ll play two nights at Brooklyn Bowl, with Innov Gnawa joining them on Friday, March 15, and Poetic Thrust starting the night off on Saturday, March 16.

    The musical collective known as Antibalas (Spanish for bullet-proof or anti-bullets) was conceived of in Mexico City and formed in Brooklyn in the late ’90s. The early formation of the group was composed of the band’s founder Martín Perna and later included several other members (Gabriel Roth, Michael Wagner, Del Stribling aka Binky Griptite, Victor Axelrod, Fernando Bugaloo Velez, Anda Szilagyi) from the Soul Providers / Dap Kings band. performing their first show in May 1998 at St. Nick’s Pub in Harlem NY.

    The music of Fela Kuti is well represented in the Antibalas sound, and was part of the band’s early connection with percussionist Amayo, who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria who was fluent in the music of Fela. Within months of his first show with the band at The Cooler, he began composing and performing lyrics and assuming the role of the group’s lead vocalist / frontman.

    Antibalas recently released their sixth studio album on Daptone, Where the Gods are in Peace.  Though recognized for their fluency in Afrobeat and funk music, the band is known to collaborate with diverse groups and artists, from Angélique Kidjo to Jovanotti to Medeski Martin & Wood to Public Enemy, and served as the house band at Carnegie Hall in 2014 (Music of Paul Simon), 2015 (Music of David Byrne & Talking Heads) and 2017’s Music of Aretha Franklin.

    Join Antibalas and guests Innov Gnawa and Poetic Thrust this weekend at Brooklyn Bowl and celebrate 20 year’s of Afro-Cuban funk and rhythm.

    antibalas anniversary

    Check out the rest of Antibalas’ 20th Anniversary Tour Dates.

    March 14 – The Warehouse at FTC – Fairfield, CT
    March 15 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
    March 16 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
    March 30 – The Shrine – Lagos, Nigeria
    April 3 – FuzzYon – La Roche Sur Yon, FR
    April 4 – La Sirene – La Rochelle, FR
    April 5 – Le Temps Machine – Joue Les Tour, FR
    April 6 – Festival Banlieues Bleues – Epinay, FR
    April 7 – La Nef – Angouleme, FR
    April 9 – Le Moloco – Audaincourt, FR
    April 10 – Cully Jazz Festival – Cully, CH
    April 12 – Moods – Zurich, CH
    April 13 – Le Plan – Ris Orangis, FR
    April 16 – Het Depot – Leuven, BE
    April 17 – Maison Folie – Lille, FR
    April 19 – Jazz Cafe – London, UK
    April 20 – The Sugar Club – Dublin, IE
    April 21 – The Sugar Club – Dublin, IE

  • Bhuman bring ‘Gorgeous Wigs and Plenty of Lewks’ in video for “Goodbye”

    NYC alt pop duo, BHuman, have shared their stunning video for “Goodbye,” which premiered exclusively on Billboard this week, who highly noted the “whimsical, avant-garde” nature of the video.

    “Goodbye” is a playground loaded with giant puppets, massive wigs, a bunch of costume changes and a whole lot more. While the duo looks stunning in their own right, the addition of dance group Visceral Abstraction and the bold puppet outfits from Chromatico, takes the glamor to a whole new level.

    bhuman“Goodbye” is a breakup song turned 180. Billie Lloyd, a musician, composer and producer, and one half of the power duo, said she channeled her feelings of frustration with the emotionally charged lyrics, while Harrison Scott helped turn the song on its head and create an anthemic, confident statement.

    Bhuman’s work is an emotional journey through absorbing melodic hooks, intimately hushed vocals, chill-step beats and chiming synth tones. Not straying far from their interwoven message of sexuality, gender and self-acceptance, “Goodbye” is universally relatable to fans no matter what their specific situation might be. BHuman emphasize the human experience and remind fans that, no matter what they are going through, it is this human quality that keeps them interconnected and never alone.

    “Even if you’ve never transitioned or questioned your gender before, you can still understand the themes of what I’m going through or what Harrison is going through,” Lloyd explained.

    BHuman kicked off 2019 with NewNowNext including them in their list of “6 Transgender and Non-Binary Acts to Add to Your Playlists.” As the lead single off their self-titled first EP, “Goodbye” is the follow up to “Safe” and continues the process of carefully unveiling BHuman’s musical vision.

  • Premiere: Get down on stage with Marco Benevento in 360 Degrees

    Marco Benevento’s performances are a lively experience to watch in any setting. Alongside bassist Karina Rykman and drummer Andrew Borger, Marco puts on an unpredictable show with a range of originals and unique deconstructed cover choices. With a history of performances with Garage a Trois, Benevento Russo Duo, G.R.A.B., Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and Bustle in Your Hedgerow, Marco is a master on the keys and a treat to see live, and today you can see a performance from Marco in 360 degrees.

    marco benevento 360

    So get your Virtual Reality headset on (or your tablet or smartphone) and get ready to bust out some dance moves with Karina and rock out on stage with Marco and drummer Dave Butler. This 360 experience comes courtesy of C&C Media Group, Marco Benevento, Royal Potato Family, and Ardmore Music Hall who collaborated as a way to say THANK YOU to fans by giving them an immersive 360 concert for free.

    Watch “Bus Ride” from Marco’s September 22, 2018 show at Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, PA. Want more? Subscribe below to see the full show and tune into Set 1 and Set 2! (360 videos are best watched in 1440p on a tablet or mobile device, but are available up to 4K! If you have Google Cardboard, click on the Cardboard icon in the lower right.)

    All videos were produced by C&C Media Group. Subscribe to C&C Media Group’s YouTube channel to gain access to current and future performances and interviews. 

    Catch Marco on tour this spring

    March 9 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm’s Barn (SOLD OUT)
    March 29 – New Orleans, LA – Hogs For The Cause
    April 26 – New Orleans, LA – Blue Nile
    April 27 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
    May 1 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – River Street Jazz Cafe
    May 2 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
    May 3 – Jersey City, NJ – White Eagle Music Hall
    May 4 – Greenfield, MA – Hawks & Reed
    May 10 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
    May 11 – Harrisburg, PA – The Abbey (Free)
    June 13 – Bethel, NY – Mountain Jam
    July 13 – Marshfield, MA – Levitate Festival

  • The Felice Brothers announce new album and release first single ‘Poor Blind Birds’

    The Felice Brothers have released “Poor Blind Birds” from their upcoming album Undress , set for release on May 3 via Yep Roc Records. Brothers Ian and James Felice grew up in Palenville in the Catskills, and are joined by Will Lawrence and Jesske Hume and other Hudson Valley musicians from time to time.

    Reflecting on the current political climate and general uncertainty in the world, Undress finds the group in a very different place than their last album, 2016’s Life In The Dark. Between personnel changes, families growing and the political landscape, the result is a tighter, more pared-down release. “Every song is a story,” said James Felice. “On this album everything was a bit more thoughtful, including the arrangements, the sonic quality and the harmonies.”

    photographs by lawrence braun

    Ian and James Felice are self taught musicians, inspired as much by Hart Crane and Whitman as by Woody Guthrie and Chuck Berry, they began in 2006 by playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of Life in the Dark, The Felice Brothers served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release Salutations and the subsequent tour.

    Tour Dates:
    April 27 – Skyloft – Albany, NY
    April 28 – The Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY
    April 29 – The 9th Ward at Babeville – Buffalo, NY
    April 30 – The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON
    May 2 – Sleeping Village – Chicago, IL
    May 3 – On the Rail Roots Festival – Lexington, KY
    May 4 – Rumba Cafe – Columbus, OH
    May 6 – Club Cafe – Pittsburgh, PA
    May 7 – Tellus 360 – Lancaster, PA
    May 9 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
    May 10 – The Bell House – Brooklyn, NY
    May 11 – BSP Kingston – Kingston, NY
    May 12 – Hopewell Theater – Hopewell, NJ
    May 15 – 35 Artspce – Portsmouth, NH
    May 16 – Columbus Theatre – Providence, RI
    May 18 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA
    May 23 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA
    May 24 – Richmond Music Hall – Richmond, VA
    May 25 – Wolf Trap – Vienna, VA (with The Avett Brothers)
    June 6 – Grey Eagle Tavern – Asheville, NC
    June 7 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
    June 8 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN
    June 9 – Avondale Brewery – Birmingham, AL
    June 10 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans
    June 12 – Barracuda – Austin, TX
    June 14 – Tumbleroot – Santa Fe, NM
    June 15 – 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
    June 16 – The Casbah – San Diego, CA
    June 17 – Bootleg Theater – Los Angeles, CA
    June 19 – The Chapel – San Francisco, CA
    June 21 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
    June 22 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
    June 24 – Visual Arts Collective – Garden City, ID
    June 25 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
    June 27 – Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO

  • Back to the Garden: ‘Barefoot in Babylon’ – the definitive book on Woodstock

    “Woodstock never happened – it was planned.” This phrase sums up the massive effort put into the original Woodstock music festival, and after reading Barefoot in Babylon, you’ll see how much planning, including last minute changes of venue and crises both big and small, went into making Woodstock a pinnacle event in American music history. For those who enjoy a good music festival, there is perhaps no better publication recounting the extreme detail that went into planning this generation-shaping event than Barefoot in Babylon: The Creation of the Woodstock Music Festival, 1969.

    barefoot in babylon

    In reading the 1979 history of the festival, one notices not only the culture of the late 1960s and the prevailing anti-war attitude in the nation, but also the minutia that we commonly overlook when we go to a festival.  Food, security, fences, water, stage set-up, the performers, traffic, bathrooms, medical assistance, and just the all-around aura of each festival is given a full treatment in Barefoot in Babylon.  As problems arose, sleep was lost, people ingested bad acid, a few deaths occurred, camaraderie was had between people from every part of the country, and memories were all that was taken. And a movement of music festivals around the country took on new life.

    The struggles that Woodstock Ventures had in securing the site is a recurring theme throughout the book as they are constantly told there is no room at the inn. Various townships, including Wallkill, found ways to prevent the festival from taking place with only weeks to go before fans arrived.  There is an overwhelming feeling that you are there, and can visualize every moment of the festival, how the stage slipped 6 inches during a torrential downpour, security extorting money from the festival producers, possible mass-electrocution, and the National Guard waiting on standby for what they thought would be a major health crisis.  Regardless, the festival went off, hitches and all, and the legacy of the efforts of two hippies and two businessmen culminated in a weekend we continue to experience in spirit when attending music festivals each year.

    Barefoot in Babylon is meticulously researched, with Spitz working a decade after the festival ended and working tirelessly to track down every member of the original staff that could be found. Stanley Goldstein, headhunter and campgrounds coordinator for the festival, was a major asset to Spitz, identifying and helping to connect him with staff so that he might jog their memories, and then, painstakingly, piece the stories together chronologically. Musicians including Richie Havens, Country Joe McDonald and more filled in behind the scenes details, with a full view of every detail of the planning of Woodstock extensively chronicled.

    Tracking down a copy of this book takes some effort, as the book is out of print, but online retailers have used copies for sale.  500 pages doesn’t seem like enough to tell the whole story of Woodstock from conception to cleanup, but every moment, every individual, every problem that arose – and there are so many, you’ll be shocked they pulled it off – are all documented with great precision.

    Barefoot in Babylon is written by Bob Spitz, author of The Beatles: The Biography, and whose most recent book, Reagan: An American Journey., is now available.