NYS Music 20​19

Category: Media

  • In Focus: Harvestfest, Tribute to Mother Earth Puts the Focus on the Ladies

    Four years ago Matt Strong had an idea — an idea that came to him as he admired a painting a friend of his had done. The idea was to put together a fall festival celebrating Mother Earth and female musicians. As the owner-operator of Rooted Entertainment Solutions, he was finally able to bring that to fruition at Woods Valley Ski Area in Westernville, site of the past two Woods Fest Music Festivals, this past Saturday at Harvestfest: Tribute to Mother Earth.

    Woods Valley owner-operator Tim Woods and Strong put their heads together to create a regional fall festival drawing from bands with strong female musicians. The result was a full day of music, collaboration, vendors, good vibes and hats, lots of hats, that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. The event culminated with a female-heavy superjam that saw the ladies collaborating on stellar versions of Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”

    Headliner Hayley Jane sat in with a number of the acts throughout the day and performed two sets with Rob Compa of Dopapod as well.

    The lineup included Ithaca ska band ¡Viva Mayhem!, Connecticut neo-soul act Erica T. Bryan and the New Mosaic, Utica folk artist Lady Daisy River, Syracuse reggae-roots rockers Root Shock and Syracuse indie-punk-ska outfit Late Earth.

    The running theme throughout the day was community. Attendees of all ages, including families, attended the event, greeting familiar faces and befriending unfamiliar faces. Attendees and musicians alike were seen mingling, talking music and art and just enjoying the beautiful weather.

    Despite the fact that each band came from different backgrounds and different areas, there was a true sense of community felt among the musicians at Woods Valley. Many of them were meeting each other for the first time and became fast friends, with some even making plans to perform together in the future. This may have been an unintended goal in putting together such a festival but one that will surely benefit the Northeast music community for some time to come. The intended goal was surely achieved. This was a day to celebrate the power of women in music. There were several powerful performances throughout the day and one powerful organization that is quickly making its name in the live music scene.

    The non-profit organization Groovesafe was on site during the festival. Groovesafe is a 501(c)(3) organization that brings awareness of the need for consent, to stand against sexual assault and unwanted touching at shows and festivals and to create safe and respectful dance spaces. It is a movement founded by Ashley Driscoll, following an incident at a Phish show in Las Vegas in the fall of 2016. To learn more about the Groovesafe movement and how you can donate or contribute to the cause, visit their website here.

    Plans are already underway for Harvestfest 2.

    Kari Feingold of Tailfeather, Hayley Jane and Ashley Driscoll of Groovesafe
    Evan Bujold and Andrea Canale skanking during Viva Mayhem’s set
    Dwayne Keith from the New Mosaic sits in with Late Earth
    Emily Hoyt, Hayley Jane, Andrea Canale and Erica T. Bryan Superjamming
    Emily Hoyt, Andrea Canale, Hayley Jane, Erica T. Bryan and Jessica Brown (L to R)
    Hayley Jane, Erica T. Bryan and Rob Compa
    Hayley Jane
    Brian Lauri, Jessica Brown/Root Shock
    Matt Strong
    Rob Compa and Hayley Jane
    Root Shock
    Root Shock
    Root Shock
    Viva Mayhem
    Viva Mayhem
    Erica T. Bryan and the New Mosaic
    Andrea Canale/Late Earth
    Brock Kuca/Annie in the Water
    Evan Bujold/Late Earth
    Rob Compa
    Erica T. Bryan
    The New Mosaic
    Late Earth

  • ‘One Night Only Again’ Delivers Unique Jams for a Good Cause at The Cap

    One Night Only Again brought awareness to an unfortunate disease called EB, thanks to a few incredible musicians who came together for a special night of jamming at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY last weekend. The night started with a few EB patients on stage rallying for debra of America, the only U.S. non-profit that provides all-inclusive support to the EB community, and ended with two sets of soul satisfying blues standards, jazz, funk and southern rock.

    The EB patients take the stage

    The show began with several patients on stage discussing the difficulties associated with EB, also known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, which causes extremely fragile skin. These brave individuals rallied for Debra, as their bandages can cost up to $85K per month and Debra helps defray this cost and much more. Please visit http://www.debra.org/ for more information.

    Warren Haynes

    After the heartfelt moment with the patients, an all-star cast of musicians emerged on stage to rock out in honor of them, including Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule) on guitar, Joe Russo (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) on drums, John Medeski (Medeski, Martin and Wood) on keys, George Porter Jr (Meters) on bass, and Karl Denson (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe) on saxophone, flute and percussion. 

    These musicians are feeling it!

    Jazzy undertones were present throughout the night as this group had great stage karma, wove through musical genres, and delivered a delicious setlist. Notable jazz-infused rock covers included The Rolling Stone’s “Honky Tonk Woman” and The Allman Brother’s “Whipping Post.” Unfortunately, these songs could only be heard for one night only.

    George Porter Jr.

    Set One: Warren Hayne’s 3 “String George,” Warren Hayne’s “Sick Of My Shadow,” The Meter’s “Just Kissed My Baby,” Allen Toussaint’s “From A Whisper To A Stream,” The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women,” “Good Morning, School Girl” (blues standard), and “32-20 Blues” (blues standard)

    Set Two: The Staple Singers’ “Hammer & Nails” > Smokestack Lightning (blues classic), James Brown’s “The Payback,” Jesse Stone’s “Don’t Let Go,” Warren Hayne’s “River’s Gonna Rise,” The Rolling Stone’s “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” Gov’t Mule’s “Sco-Mule,” The Meters’ “It Ain’t No Use,” The Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post”

    Encore: Cream’s “Politician”

     

  • Premiere: The Phryg is Open with video and single”Bad Habit”

    The Phryg, a four piece progressive funk band from Brooklyn, best known for tremendously original music featuring deep pockets of funk have found their talents bringing them across the country. Today, The Phryg release the video and single for “Bad Habit,” a song about being ‘addicted’ to funk and attempting to suppress the urge to dance when hearing music that makes you want to let loose.

    The lyrics playfully describe the main character coming to terms with his problem and later succumbing to his primal urges stating, “If we could all come to see that the funk is a remedy.”

    The tune opens with a thumping groove between the bass and drums that drops into an intoxicatingly catchy chorus. The verses bounce along as lyrics intertwine with Hammond organ before synth chords. The song climaxes with a fiery guitar solo that twists, turns and ascends upwards. The listener is brought back down to earth with a return to the chorus and the final lyrics, “It’s easier to give in then to refrain – I’ve got a funk bad habit.”

    The video features Seth Schiesel, Terry Brennan (Cousin Earth) and Angelic Aguilera, with videography by Brandon McClasky and editing by Bryan Walters.

    The Phryg most recently played an after party at Garcia’s for a sold out Vida Blue show at The Capitol Theatre, and 2018’s Shakori Hills Festival alongside NY artists like Lettuce and Consider the Source. They’ve shared the stage with Bob Lanzetti of Snarky Puppy, Organ Freeman, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, The Fritz, Cycles and many more. The Phryg released their self-titled full length album in July 2016 as a follow up to their debut EP Midnight Snack.

    The Phryg Fall Tour dates

    Nov. 2 – Official Umphrey’s McGee pre-party at Goose Island – Philadelphia, PA

    Nov. 8 – Casa del Sol – Nyack, NY

    Nov. 22 – Rock Harbor Pub & Brewery – Rockland, ME

    Nov. 23 – Maine Craft Distilling – Portland, ME

    Dec. 28 – Phish after party at Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY

  • Terrorbyte Brings Ghosts To The Lost Horizon

    Terrorbyte performed an epic Halloween show at The Lost Horizon in Syracuse last night. Performing  most of their catalog, fans were treated to an excellent set with high energy and some chaos.

    They took the stage dressed in their usual masks as a taser got the crowd fired up into a frenzy, chanting “TERRORBYTE” as some of the members began climbing up on the wall. Their stage presence will just draw you in as there is so much going on at once. Whether it’s one of the members tasering another, or someone hanging from the ceiling – there is always something crazy happening at a Terrorbyte show.

    Terrorbyte

    Playing roughly an hour, their set was non-stop, high energy, “in your face” metal. There was little break in between songs as the band flowed so well, only stopping a couple of times to give some insight into their songs. “Gravitational” was dedicated to a late friend of the singer, and he took some time to speak on dealing with issues of depression and suicide.

    Finishing up their set, the crowd demanded another song as everyone in the venue was chanting, “One more song!” Terrorbyte obliged and performed a crushing version of “Shooting Star” which had everyone going nuts.

    Terrorbyte is a “must see” band based out of Syracuse that has made some huge waves in the metal word. During the performance of the show, Terrorbyte mentioned their upcoming album which has been highly anticipated, is currently being worked on, and expected to be released in the near future.

  • Tony Award-Winning Musical ‘Bandstand’ Takes the Road

    The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Bandstand will roll out a coast to coast tour starting October 25 in Oklahoma City, OK. This tour comes after this smash- hit spent 2017 on Broadway. During the residency it was nominated for three Tony Awards and snagged the Tony for Best Choreography.

    “THE SHOW DEFIES YOU NOT TO BE MOVED”

    Time Out New York

    The vibrant musical, Bandstand, shows how one can heal through music and dance, written by Robert Taylor (book and lyrics), Richard Oberacker (music) and directed by three-time Tony winner Andy Blankkenbuelher (Hamilton choreography). The plot features World War II veteran Donny, fresh from the front lines, as he returns home to be a songwriter. When this proves difficult, he forms a group to compete in the NBC bandstand contest.  Using a peppy outlook and upbeat music, Bandstand delves into the challenges faced by our service men and women upon returning. This is a story that stretches across many decades.

    Photo by Michael Pool

    Along the way Bandstand will make stops in various New York cities. Included is The Stanley Theater in Utica, Proctors in Schenectady and the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Greenvale. Tickets are on sale now through the musicals website. Check out the additional tour dates below.

    BandStand Tour Dates: 2019-2020

    Oct.25-26 – OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater – Oklahoma City, OK

    Oct.29-30 – Rudder Auditorium – College Station, TX

    Nov.1 – Popejoy Hall – Albuquerque, NM

    Nov.2-3 – Civic Center Auditorium – Amarillo, TX

    Nov.4 – Bicknell Center for the Arts – Pittsburg, KS
    Nov.5 – Chapman Music Hall – Tulsa, OK

    Nov.6 – Abilene Convention Center – Abilene, TX

    Nov.7 – Cowan Center – Tyler, TX

    Nov.8 – Lutcher Theater – Orange, TX

    Nov.9 – The Grand 1894 Opera House – Galveston, TX

    Nov.11-12 – Washington Pavilion – Sioux Falls, SD

    Nov.13 – Civic Center – Bismarck, ND

    Nov.16-17 – Hult Center for the Performing Arts – Eugene, OR

    Nov.19-20 – Granada Theater – Santa Barbara, CA

    Nov.21-24 – Fred Kavli Theatre – Thousand Oaks, CA

    Dec.3-4 – Pikes Peak Center – Colorado Springs, CO

    Dec.6-8 – Orpheum Theatre – Phoenix, AZ

    Dec.11 – Orpheum Theatre – Sioux City, IA

    Dec.12 – Juanita K. Hammons Hall – Springfield, MO

    Dec.13-14 – Civic Center – Des Moines, IA

    Dec.15 – Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center – Cedar Falls, IA

    Dec.16 – River Center Adler Theater – Davenport, IA

    Dec.17 – Yardley Hall – Overland Park, KS

    Jan.3-5 – Von Braun Center Concert Hall – Huntsville, AL

    Jan.7 – Paramount Arts Center – Ashland, KY

    Jan.8 – Honeywell Center – Wabash, IN

    Jan.9-12 – Stranahan Theater – Toledo, OH

    Jan.14-16 – Century II Performing Arts Center – Wichita, KS

    Jan.17-19- Lied Center for Performing Arts – Lincoln, NE

    Jan.21 – Grand Theater – Wausau, WI

    Jan.22 – Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts – Bloomington, IL

    Jan.23 – Niswonger Performing Arts Center – Van Wert, OH

    Jan.24-26 – Morris Performing Arts Center – South Bend, IN

    Jan.27 – Emens Auditorium – Muncie, IN     

    Jan.29 – Givens Performing Arts Center – Pembroke, NC

    Jan.30 – Clayton Center for the Arts – Maryville, TN

    Jan.31 – Charleston Gaillard Center – Charleston, SC

    Feb.1-2 – Oxford Performing Arts Center – Oxford, AL

    Feb.4-5 – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall – Sarasota, FL

    Feb.6 – Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts – Avon Park, FL

    Feb.7-8 – The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center – The Villages, FL

    Feb.9 – Mainstage Theater – Niceville, FL

    Feb.10 – Lafon Performing Arts Center – Luling, LA

    Feb.17 – King Center – Melbourne, FL

    Feb.18-23 – Moran Theater – Jacksonville, FL

    Feb.25-26 – Whiting Auditorium – Flint, MI

    Feb.28-29 – Hershey Theatre – Hershey, PA
    Mar.1 – Palace Theater – Waterbury, CT

    Mar.3-8 – National Theatre – Washington, D.C.

    Mar.10 – Stanley Theatre – Utica, NY

    Mar.12 – State Theatre – Easton, PA

    Mar.13-14 – Proctor’s Theatre – Schenectady, NY

    Mar.15 – Tilles Center for the Performing Arts – Greenvale, NY

    Mar.17-18 – Community Theatre – Morristown, NJ

    Mar.19-22 – Hanover Theatre – Worcester, MA

    Mar.27-29 – Pioneer Center – Reno, NV

    Mar.30-31 – Mary Stuart Rogers Theater – Modesto, CA

    Apr.2 – Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium – Idaho Falls, ID

    Apr.3-5 – Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts – Boise, ID

    Apr.7-12 – Memorial Auditorium – Sacramento, CA

    Apr.14 – Civic Center – Cheyenne, WY

    Apr.15 – Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center – Hays, KS

    Apr.17-19 – Lexington Opera House – Lexington, KY

    Apr.20 – Carson Center – Paducah, KY

    Apr.21 – Robinson Music Hall – Little Rock, AR

    Apr.22 – Community Center Auditorium – Bartlesville, OK

    Apr.24-26 – Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex – Birmingham, AL
    Apr.27-28 – Grand Opera House – Macon, GA

    Apr.29-30 – Koger Center for the Arts – Columbia, SC

    May 2 – Wilson Center – Wilmington, NC

    May 3 – Morganton Municipal Auditorium – Morganton, NC

    May 5-17 – Broward Center for the Performing Arts – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

    May 25 – Murphey Performance Hall – San Angelo, TX

    May 26-31 – Winspear Opera House – Dallas, TX

    Jun.3-4 – Count Basie Theatre – Red Bank, NJ

    Jun.5-7 – Shubert Theater – New Haven, CT

  • In Focus: Explosions In The Sky Light up Asbury Hall in Buffalo

    Post-rockers Explosions In The Sky embarked on a nationwide tour which brought them to Asbury Hall in Buffalo for only the second time in their career. After 20 years of making music, the band’s only other appearance in Buffalo was at the Tralf in 2008.

    Setlist: A Song for Our Fathers, The Birth and Death of the Day, The Only Moment We Were Alone, Greet Death, Yasmin the Light, Have You Passed Through This Night?, Disintegration Anxiety, Your Hand in Mine, Magic Hours, Catastrophe and the Cure, Colors in Space.

  • Jazz Rabbi Greg Wall Digs Downtown NYC Roots for 60th Birthday Gig

    Update 11/27/19: Per an email this week, this event is cancelled. The official statement reads:

    Unfortunately, the Museum at Eldridge Street has cancelled the December 1 Greg Wall concert to benefit the Museum due to unforeseen circumstances. We will notify you when the event is rescheduled.

    Saxophonist and composer Greg Wall, a staple on the downtown avant-garde jazz scene since the early 1990s, celebrates his 60th birthday with a benefit concert in the stunning historic sanctuary of the Museum at Eldridge Street on Sunday, December 1 at 3 p.m. Wall will perform with his longtime working bands including: Zion80, Hasidic New Wave, Portal, Klezmerfest, and Greg Wall’s Later Prophets, as well as the Ayn Sof Arkestra and Bigger Band which returns for this concert. Proceeds will benefit the Museum.

    A leading figure in the Jewish music scene for over thirty years, Greg Wall is a pioneer in blending Jewish music with jazz. After early training under Archie Shepp and Max Roach in Amherst, MA, Wall finished his apprenticeship at New England Conservatory in Boston, studying and performing jazz with Jaki Byard, George Russell, and Jimmy Guiffre, and was part of the Klezmer revival scene at NEC.

    After graduation he headed to New York and together with classmate Frank London, helped define the sound of “Jewish Jazz” with groups like Hasidic New Wave, Midrash Mishmash and later, the Ayn Sof Arkestra and Bigger Band, Shechina Big Band, Later Prophets and Zion80. He toured with the late Yosi Piamenta, the “Hasidic Hendrix,” and released several recordings playing original compositions alongside spoken word.

    Wall played regularly at the original Knitting Factory locations, Tonic, the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, and the Stone, as well as making frequent tours abroad to Europe and Israel, maintaining a parallel career performing classic and mainstream jazz. While on the road, Wall pursued Talmudic study and was ordained as a Rabbi in 2006.

    Wall is no stranger to Eldridge Street. In the early- to mid-90s he frequented the venue at a time when the landmark was dilapidated and only beginning to establish itself as in important cultural hub for families, hipsters, artists and religious and secular Jews.

    My relationship with the museum goes back almost 30 years, when the restoration of the Eldridge Street Synagogue was the dream of a few determined, hard-working individuals. They never forgot their roots, and simultaneously became an important national cultural icon, while continuing to serve the folks in the neighborhood – It’s my kind of place.

    Greg Wall

    In 2009, Wall was appointed rabbi at the Sixth Street Community Synagogue in the East Village and continued to exhibit his particular blend of spirituality and avant-garde music with regular performances in the temple’s sanctuary. He was the founding Artistic Director of the synagogue’s Center for Jewish Arts and Literacy, which was an incubator for cutting edge modern music with a Jewish flavor. That practice continued, in 2013, when Wall became rabbi at Beit Chaverim Synagogue, in Westport,CT, where he’s continued to perform regularly his eclectic mix of classical and experimental jazz, Eastern European and African American roots music with a rotating group of influential musicians.

    Wall’s latest release is The Book Beri’ah with Zion80, on the Tzadik record label of legendary producer John Zorn. A live recording with jazz pianist Andy LaVerne is scheduled for January, 2020.

    The Museum at Eldridge Street is housed in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, a magnificent National Historic Landmark that has been meticulously restored. Opened in 1887, the synagogue is the first great house of worship built in America by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Today, it is the only remaining marker of the great wave of Jewish migration to the Lower East Side that is open to a broad public who wish to visit Jewish New York. Exhibits, tours, cultural events and educational programs tell the story of Jewish immigrant life, explore architecture and historic preservation, inspire reflection on cultural continuity, and foster collaboration and exchange between people of all faiths, heritages and interests.

  • Premiere: Glass Pony’s”Stardust” Delivers Depth and Complexity with a Groove

    Indie-jam band Glass Pony has been performing throughout the Capital District over the last year, with a wave of fans in tow for each performance. On November 2, they’ll release their self-titled debut album with a release show at Parish Public House that night.

    Glass Pony Stardust

    “Stardust” features dense sonic elements from dreamy background vocals meshed with guitar effects and funky bass grooves. The lyrical depth offers just enough ambiguity for listeners to develop their own meaning against a backdrop of the other musical elements. When performed live, “Stardust” serves as a vehicle for standout jams with the solo section navigating to new territory before being led back into the composition by guitarist Greg Pittz.

    Lyrically, “Stardust” is meant to be open for personal interpretation with the underlying theme being the search for our place in the big picture of life – the questions, insecurities and realizations that are present in every stage of growth and development, with the goal of finding and settling into our place. Guitarist Eddie Hotaling says of “Stardust,” “Everyone is ultimately the king or queen of their cosmic experience, but the discovery of that concept manifests differently for everybody. That message can be found in the lyrics, “It takes a moment / let the stardust settle down / and all your thoughts could be delivered / everybody wears a crown.”

    Glass Pony’s debut album Stardust was recorded and mixed by Eddie Hotaling at The Stables in Albany, NY and was mastered by Scott Apicelli at Blue Sky Recording in Delmar, NY. Glass Pony is Chanda Dewey (drums, vocals), Eddie Hotaling (vocals, rhythm guitar) Jeff Picarazzi (bass, vocals) and Greg Pittz (lead guitar). Featured on “Stardust” and multiple tracks on the album is Matt Richards (keys, Formula 5, Annie in the Water).

  • Premiere: Juniper Lays down their foundation with “Concrete Ocean”

    Boston’s Juniper today premiere their latest single “Concrete Ocean,” a song that tackles a theme of ‘aloneness,’ inspired by bassist Scott Johnson’s transfer to Boston University. The constant sensation of being surrounded by thousands of young adults his age, Johnson was still feeling isolated due to a lack of new friends and connections.

    Johnson wrote “Concrete Ocean,” with band members Cam Ayer (lead vocals), Ahren Shreeve (guitar), Alejandro Marin (drums, vocals) and Sebastian Themelis (keys, vocals) aiding in the process throughout, making the track a full team effort in various arrangement aspects. 

    “The line “Who the fuck talks to me anymore?” in the third verse highlights that even though I would engage in conversation, it wouldn’t be about how I was feeling, or of any profound nature—merely day to day topics.”

    “I look down on, the concrete ocean, with no notion, of where I’m going” refers to constantly looking out of my dorm window at the vast city and feeling overwhelmed as to whether I made the right decision to transfer, and further questioning what I was to do/what I want to do with my life now being in a completely new environment, and the calamity of both of those coming together. Feeling like I was drowning, “may it be in loneliness” identifies that this perpetual superficiality of my reality and the loneliness I felt was suffocating.

    The end of the track and how it repeats the first two lines was meant to allude to the cyclical nature of my experience in transferring, and how others deal with similar issues, and how it may not be my last time having to undergo a similar experience.

    A five piece band who began performing in the Spring of 2017, quickly garnered a small but strong fan base and that summer embarked on their first recording project. A 5 song EP was released in September of 2017, and the group have performed in Brooklyn, Burlington, and various venues around Boston MA in the past two years.

    Since formation, Juniper have crafted their sound, which takes on a unique and eclectic energy, while maintaining a strong fluidity and purpose. Juniper derives their influence from the notion that what they have to say matters, that what everybody has to say matters. One’s voice and identity and what they experience transcends time and space, and connecting with people on that level through the medium of music is what Juniper values most.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0ISq9Y37Z8

  • Yungblud & MISSIO Sell Out The Lost Horizon

    Yungblud and MISSIO recently made a stop on their Twisted Tales Of The Ritalin Club Tour at The Lost Horizon in Syracuse, NY. It was originally scheduled to take place at The Westcott Theater, but due to scheduling conflicts the show had to be rescheduled at The Lost Horizon and almost immediately sold out.

    Fans of all different ages and backgrounds packed into the club like sardines waiting for MISSIO to take the stage. While mostly everyone was talking about Youngblud and how they couldn’t wait to see him, there were several fans in the front row going off on just how good MISSIO is.

    After a brief introduction by 95X’s Scott Dixon, MISSIO took to the stage in complete darkness as the crowd roared in anticipation. Opening with one of their better known songs, “Twisted,” lead singer Matthew Brue danced to the background electronic beat with a fierce and commanding presence. Immediately captivating the audience with his impressive vocal range and soft but deep tone. MISSIO is able to blend heavy EDM beats with a mix of Rap, Rock, and Alt Rock in a unique style that works so well.

    yungbludBetween songs, Matthew Brue continuously connected with the audience on a personal level. Before performing the song “Politics” he spoke to the audience saying, “How many people here like politics? Though I’m not talking about the politics that you’re probably thinking of. I’m talking about the politics with friends. This song is about some friendships that are worse than politics. Like you just suck out my soul, why are you still here?”

    Before performing “I See You” he reached out to the crowd once again. “We want to take our masks off, and what I mean by that is to be who you really are. Whether you’re dealing with addiction, depression, anxiety or any of the bullshit that comes with life struggles, we still see who you are.” Closing out their set with “Middle Fingers,” MISSIO thanked the crowd and left the audience buzzing as they awaited for Yungblud.

    yungbludThe hype waiting for Yungblud was unreal. Hearing every fan chanting “YUNGBLUD” as loud as they can was one of the loudest crowd noises I have heard at The Lost Horizon. The lights went dark and the crowd erupted into a frenzied scream as two figures dressed in body armor carrying dark flags walked onto the stage.

    yungbludAfter a brief intro to “21st Century Liability,” Yungblud sprinted out from the side stage to fans screaming in ecstasy. The energy Yungblud has on stage is rivaled only by Jonny Hawkins of Nothing More, constantly jumping around to the beat of the music and walking out onto the barricade to lean into his fans.

    Yungblud’s set overall was a very high-energy performance that didn’t slow down until he walked off the stage. Performing hits like “I Love You, Will You Marry Me,” “King Charles,” and “Parents” had the audience singing along to every word throughout the night.

    yungbludAnother highlight of the night was “Polygraph Eyes,” a song about the importance of consent. The way he connects with the audience is rare to see with live shows today, and his fans certainly showed their appreciation as much as Yungblud showed his to the fans.

    Yungblud is a whirlwind of energy onstage and lives up to all the hype surrounding him. His performance is definitely worth seeing live, and the very impressive roster of artists that he has been working with is sure to skyrocket his career.

    Setlist: 21st Century Liability, Psychotic Kids, I love you, Will You Marry Me?, King Charles, Anarchist, Polygraph Eyes, Parents, Medication, Loner, Kill Somebody, Live Interlude, I Think I’m OKAY, California, Die for the Hype, Hope for the Underrated Youth, Machine Gun

    Yungblud

    MISSIO

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