NYS Music 20​19

Category: Media

  • Jason & The Rex release debut music video and single “Bullets are Flying”

    Brooklyn alternative hip-hop artist, Jason & The Rex recently released their debut single and accompanying music video for “Bullets Are Flying.” Inspired by emotion from the Parkland shootings, Jason unfurls a pensive, sometimes manic flow that expresses the convoluted public discourse surrounding the gun violence epidemic in the U.S. over vibrant horns, a melancholy piano lead, strange-sounding synths, and a reverb-washed chorus create a dense soundscape.

    Hoping to inspire activism within his art, Jason layered hidden meanings and messages with each aspect of both the video and the track. The dancers movements, the TV screens, sounds and atmospheric layers created from voice samples of common gun-violence soundbites are just a few examples of the extreme intuitiveness found in the creation of this video, conveying an emotive message of gun violence. 100% of proceeds from “Bullets Are Flying” will be donated to March For Our Lives.

    Hip-hop, future-funk, and dream-pop influences blend to create a densely layered lamentation of our nation’s gun violence crisis in “Bullets Are Flying.” Jason draws on his love for socially-conscious 90’s hip-hop artists like De La Soul and Common with the synth-heavy, lush soundscapes of psychedelic dream-pop artists like the Cocteau Twins, the Cranberries, and Tame Impala. The video is directed by Samantha Silver and produced by Tag Brum.

    “Bullets Are Flying” will appear on Jason’s forthcoming EP Synthesizer or Variations of: An Endemic Cycle, which will explore and expand the theme of living in the mass shooting generation.

  • In Focus: Here Come the Mummies lay the funk down at Skyloft

    Their identities may be under wraps but Here Come the Mummies are the high power funk band you didn’t know you needed in your life. Playing to a crowd at Albany’s Skyloft, most didn’t know what to expect but found themselves moving to the consistently energizing funk.

    This 11-piece group is anonymous, supposedly cursed after deflowering a great Pharaoh’s daughter, or perhaps they are reincarnated Grammy-Winning studio musicians. Either way, the performance from a Mummies show is second to none and more visits to the Empire State are in order.

    Here Come The Mummies

    Over the course of their two hour set full of originals, many with suggestive lyrics, had the audience cracking up while they’re getting down. “Pants,” “Shag Carpet” and “Freak Flag” all had their own elements of kink and double entendre, while “Bring that (Bootie) Down” and “Ra Ra Ra” filled in with big band funk that is a rare find these days.

    The attentive ear could even catch riffs of Wreckx-N-Effect “Rump Shaker” that beckoned for the crowd to get down. An encore of “Dirty Minds” summed up the band’s style in both sound and lyrics, and kept the audience waiting for more. Here Come the Mummies will surely rise again in the Capital District.

    photos by Conor McMahon

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    Here Come The Mummies
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    Here Come The Mummies
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    Here Come The Mummies
    Here Come The Mummies
    Here Come The Mummies

  • Stone Temple Pilots Leave Upstate Concert Hall Dead and Bloated

    The Stone Temple Pilots have been playing since the late 80’s, and even with a new face on the mic, they don’t seem to be slowing down. Droves of fans packed the wide room of Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, NY on Tuesday September 10th. The crowd was a sea of late 40’s dads and also a young crowd that will keep these memories alive.

    The quartet came out to a massive roar as they took the stage. They started off strong, working through “Coma,” “Wicked Garden” and “Vasoline.” After a few classics they moved into their newer songs. They did an incredible job weaving through their repertoire, at one point playing two of their most memorable songs sandwiching their newest singles.

    You can catch STP on the last leg of their tour coming up on September 19 and 22 in Philadelphia and New York City. Check out the setlist and photos from Zatchmo Lives Media below.

    Setlist: Coma, Wicked Garden, Vasoline, Crackerman, Lounge Fly, Big Bang Baby, Glide, Big Empty, Plush, Meadow, Interstate Love Song, Roll Me Under, Dead and Bloated, Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart.

  • Banks Shows Off Her Dance Moves in Brooklyn

    Banks brought her energetic live show to Brooklyn Steel on September 10 in support of her fantastic new LP, III. This was a second night added due to the first night on September 8 selling out so quickly.

    Kevin Garrett opened the night with a soulful, beat-backed set of ballads. The crowd was full of Kevin Garrett fans as they willed him on by, singing and dancing along. His new album Hoax, released back in March of this year, was a nice complement to the evening, setting a warm tone but not stealing away any energy from Banks.

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    Kevin Garrett at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    As the stage hands removed the opening band’s instruments, it was immediately clear that she would be dancing from one end of the stage to the other. With a keyboard set-up far stage left and a drum kit far stage right, the entire Brooklyn Steel stage was turned into Banks’ and Co. personal dance floor – and they sure used every inch.

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    Banks at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The audience was in full-throat for every song – belting out all the lyrics and trying to mimic Banks’ dance moves on the packed GA floor. Some of the more adventurous dancers drifted to the back of the room and the balcony where there was ample space to dance.

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    Banks at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    This is only the start of the III World Tour. Banks continues in North America through October then hits Europe in November.

  • In Focus: Outlaw Music Festival Stops At Forest Hills Stadium

    On Wednesday September 11, the Outlaw Music Festival made its stop at the historic Forest Hills Stadium. The traveling festival treated fans to a lineup that included Lukas Nelson & The Promise of The Real, Alison Krauss, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and the return to the stage for the legendary Willie Nelson. On a day when we remember the biggest tragedy in the history of our nation, we also remember the unity it brought, and that’s the message these amazing musicians spread to a united New York City audience. 

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  • Boris Drones on at Elsewhere in Brooklyn

    Boris needs no introduction at this point in their career. Their upcoming studio release, LφVE & EVφL, will be their 25th(!) full length LP to date. This is not even counting the numerous live albums, EPs, demos and collaborations they have put out since their formation in 1992 in Tokyo.

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    Boris at Elsewhere, Brooklyn – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The band is currently on a lengthy tour of North America and they rolled through Elsewhere, Brooklyn on Tuesday night in advance of the new album being released. Uniform provided support, delivering a very heavy and frenetic opening set, dense with noise and reverb.

    Boris took to the stage with little fanfare, and quietly began setting up their loops and pedals. Then, equipped with a double neck guitar/bass combo, Takeshi Ohtani began laying down the heavy drones. The set had many peaks and valleys as the band transitioned from heavy, nearly uncomfortable drones to more melodic and vocal bits. All three band members contribute to the vocals, making for a very hypnotic sound.

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    Boris at Elsewhere, Brooklyn – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    During the encore, Uniform joined Boris on stage for a rendition of “Akuma no Uta,” the title track from their 2013 full length. This was quite the treat for the many Uniform fans in the crowd. The show concluded with the track “Statement,” a track from an alternate version of the album Smile.

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    Boris at Elsewhere, Brooklyn – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Boris continue on their long tour with upcoming stops in the Northeast and on the West Coast before heading back to Japan. The band will end the tour, and their 2019 with a show in Athens, Greece on December 21.

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  • Aldean Rides All Night into Saratoga

    Jason Aldean played Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Thursday, September 5th to a solid crowd of country lovers of all ages. His return to upstate NY was greeted enthusiastically by fans who loved his top pop-country song of the summer “Rearview Town.”

    Openers Carly Pearce and Kane Brown set the scene for a fun and energized night of popular country music. Kane’s opening was stylistically a mix that was unique for country, complete with a visual set that replicates more pop and rap music than the traditional country look. Pearce sounded amazing and is a major up-and-comer in the country scene. Watch for her to be one of the new top female artists in the industry.

    Photo by Claude Sawyer

    Aldean entered the stage in jeans, a black Motley Crue T-shirt, and a cowboy hat with his guitar slung over his shoulder. The words “Ride All Night Tour” shone in bright letters as Aldean’s shadow crossed behind the stage when he arrived, welcoming fans with a giant “What’s Up, New York!”

    Aldean gave the fans what they wanted: his most popular hits. While some country stars use concerts to promote new music, Aldean played familiar and loved hits from throughout his career, not just his recent releases.

    Every year, Aldean plays “Dirt Road Anthem,” a different song from his others in that it includes some rap elements. The crowd sang along to the song that emphasized the importance of enjoying your friends and being a good person.

    Aldean bucked the tradition of waiting for fans to cheer for an encore. Instead, announcing he would stay on the stage and give more music to fans. He then sang a longer than usual end of the concert with upbeat fan favorites that became sing-alongs. Aldean truly can ride all night. Here’s to wishing he performed at SPAC more than once a year.

  • Collective Soul Embarking On Fall Headlining Tour, with Stops in Syracuse and Long Island

    Hot off their summer tour, Collective Soul is finishing out the year with a series of fall headlining shows. Over the next couple months, they’ll be up and down the coast, from Niagara Falls, Canada and Portland, Maine all the way down through Florida. New York dates include Syracuse on September 28 and Huntington on October 2. Tickets are on sale now.

    The setlist for their shows is sure to include songs that span their quarter-century-long catalog, from early works like “Shine,” “December” and “The World I Know,” as well as songs from their recently released tenth studio album, Blood.

    “For us, we want to play the hits as we always do, but I think we also want to share the new record with our fans. At 25 years later, we want to say, ‘Hey, we’re still making the best that we can do.’ Right now, I’ve got seven of the new songs in the setlist, and hopefully, on some nights, we can play the whole thing from start to finish. I mean, it’s our 25th anniversary. We’re going at it hard, everyone! We’re going hard.”

    – E Roland

    Collective Soul Fall 2019 Tour Dates

    Sept. 21 – The Wellmont Theater – Montclair, NJ

    Sept. 22 – Shippensburg University – Shippensburg, PA

    Sept. 24 – Capitol Center for the Arts – Concord, NH

    Sept. 25 – Aura – Portland, ME

    Sept. 27 – Eastern States Exposition – West Springfield, MA

    Sept. 28 – Crouse-Hinds Theater – Syracuse, NY

    Sept. 29 – Cabot Theater Beverly – Beverly, MA

    Oct. 1 – Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT

    Oct. 2 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY

    Oct. 3 – Parx Casino – Bensalem, PA

    Oct. 5 – Hops and Hogs Festival – Huntersville, NC

    Nov. 7 – Niagara Fallsview Casino – Niagara Falls, Canada

    Nov. 8 – Niagara Fallsview Casino – Niagara Falls, Canada

    Nov. 22 – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL

    Nov. 23 – Coral Springs Center for the Arts – Coral Springs, FL

    Nov. 25 – Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts – Melbourne, FL

    Nov. 26 – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall – Sarasota, FL

    Nov. 28 – Coca-Cola Roxy – Atlanta, GA

  • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Announce Thick As Thieves Fall Tour

    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe reconnects for a ‘Thick As Thieves’ fall tour. This 22 show tour in October and November comes just after Denson’s summer stretch as a saxophonist with The Rolling Stones. After shows in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, KDTU will be joined for the remainder of the tour by Thievery Corporation.

    The tour will feature KDTU’s first album in the past five years, Gnomes and Badgers, which was released earlier this year by Seven Spheres Records. Blending rock, soul and classic funk, the album takes a dive into the many controversial topics of today. This includes the album’s first single ‘Change My Way’ which gives a moving statement about the issues going on at the US border.

    KDTU will kick off their tour on Thursday, Oct. 3. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here on KDTU’s website. See the full list of dates below.

    Tour Dates: *Shows w/Thievery Corporation

    Oct.3 – The Pour House – Charleston, SC
    Oct.4 – Big House Museum – Macon, GA
    Oct.5 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
    Oct.6 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA
    Oct.8 – The Hamilton Live – Washington, DC
    Oct.9 – The Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC
    Oct.10 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA
    Oct.11 –  Rex Theater – Pittsburg, PA
    Oct.12 – The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA *
    Oct.13 – House of Blues – Boston, MA*
    Oct.15 – Aura – Portland, ME
    Oct.16 – Le Capitole – Quebec City, Canada*
    Oct.17 – Mtelus – Montreal, Canada *
    Oct.18 – Putnam Place – Saratoga, NY
    Oct.24 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI *
    Oct.25 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN *
    Oct.27 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN *
    Oct.28 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL*
    Nov.6 – The Fillmore – Miami, FL *
    Nov.7 – The Ritz – Tampa, FL*
    Nov.8 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA *
    Nov.9 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL *

  • Hearing Aide: Wallis Bird ‘Woman’ – A Journey in Self-Exploration

    Wallis Bird‘s upcoming album, Woman, is both a rebellious act of self-advocacy and a call to action. Wallis Bird is an accomplished musician from Ireland with a unique sound. When she was young, Wallis was involved in an accident where she lost all of the fingers on her left hand. Fortunately, all but one were able to be reattached. This has impacted the way she plays her guitar. She performs with it flipped, lending to her distinct musical quality. 

    Woman comes twelve years after her first album, and it is a reflection on the things Wallis has learned, both about herself and humanity. It serves as a way to impart what she has discovered and to rouse her audience into wanting change. To change the world around them; to be a kinder place.

    In “Life Is Long,” Wallis reminds us that while a lifetime may seem like a long period, time itself is very brief. Each moment needs to be savored, which is something that is easy to forget in a world of instant gratification and constant distractions. 

    In “Salve,” a previously released track from the album, Wallis sings, “I’m practicing what I’m preaching, no else is going to save me,” a lyric which shows she has learned responsibility for her own self-growth. It’s easy to be sold on a version of yourself when you’re constantly fed images via social media. The desire to model yourself after someone else, who appears to be living an ideal lifestyle is tempting, but Wallis seems to ask you to step back from all of that, to evaluate yourself based on your own standards and decide what it is that you truly value. Create your own rubric to measure yourself by and define your own happiness. 

    Wallis invites introspection in her track “Brutal Honesty,” where she is, as the title suggest, with herself and shows awareness about how her own words impact others. She invites the listener to step inside her thoughts, where an act of intimacy becomes a shared experience with many. In “Repeal” she advocates for the right to decide what is best. In the current political climate, as a woman, others in power feel that it is up to them to make decisions for you. Wallis Bird speaks out against this, fighting to take ownership of her own choices in life. 

    Wallis Bird presents you with singable tunes that are joyous in sound yet carry deep messages that comes from introspection and reflecting on the changing world at large. It is a blend of soul roots and her love of the various genres that have influenced her. It stands as a testament to who she is and who she has built herself to be. 

    “Woman” will be released on September 27th. To catch her on tour, you can find her upcoming shows here.

    Key Tracks: Salve, Brutal Honesty, As the River Flows.

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