NYS Music 20​19

Category: Electronic

  • Biscuits Bring the Heat to NYC for annual New Year’s Run

    Trance-fusion pioneers, The Disco Biscuits, laid down some serious jamtronica heat at NYC’s PlayStation Theatre on Saturday during their annual New Year’s run. PlayStation Theatre is closing permanently at the conclusion of this run, and the Biscuits are ensuring the venue goes out with a bang. The Disco Biscuits members include Allen Aucoin (drums), Marc Brownstein (bass), Jon Gutwillig (guitar), and Aron Magner (synthesizers).

    Saturday’s first set included a delicious “Munchkin Invasion” jam sandwich, filled with an inverted “The Great Abyss.” The second set intensified with jam vehicles “Caterpillar” and “Spraypaint” seguing into a fresh and dirty “Tractorbeam Jam,” and then right back into both.

    Tickets are still available for the two remaining nights of this soon to be legendary run at this link. FOMO can truly be damned because the band is webcasting this historic run as well. Head over to their Youtube page for more details.

    Set One: King Of The World> Munchkin Invasion> The Great Abyss*> Story Of The World> Freebis Slinky> Munchkin Invasion

    Set Two: Caterpillar> Spraypaint> Humuhumunukunukuapua’a**> Tractorbeam Jam> Caterpillar, Air Song> Spraypaint

    Encore: Bazaar Escape

    * inverted version

    ** unfinished

  • Gramatik Formulates Electronic Wizardry in Brooklyn

    Electronic wizard and free music advocate Gramatik made people dance into the early morning hours with his digital weave of urban and funky beats at the premiere EDM venue in Brooklyn, Avant Gardner. He was supported by incredibly talented colleagues Opiou and Balkan Bump for a night of organic, hip-hop-infused electronica.

    Balkan Bump is an electronic artist who mixes live instruments, world music and digital production. Trumpeter, producer and enthomusicoligist Will Magid is the brain child behind this band. A tapestry of funky beats, stellar trumpeting and dance hall vibes was cleverly woven throughout the set. At one point, Magid announced that he was playing a one word song, and everyone should sing along. That song was “Tequilla” by The Champs, and it was a huge hit with the crowd.

    Opiou, a producer and artist from New Zealand, was up next, and brought his Kiwi electronic heat. Also known as Oscar Davey-Wraight, this DJ is known for funky beats and deep bass grooves, as well as a penchant for keeping the dance floor alive well into the late night. Will Magid joined Opiou during the middle of his set on trumpet, creating a refreshing organic synergy. His signature buildups and drops continued throughout the set, framed with an engaging LED light display and plenty of fog.

    Gramatik took the stage to a packed crowd that was ready to dance. And dance they did. Denis Jašarević is Gramatik, hailing from Slovenia, and is known for his mind numbing hip-hop beats and fresh remixes. He played with guitarist Adam Stehr, adding an organic feel to his live performance. His stage setup included several LED panels that displayed colorful graphics, a healthy dose of fog, and a stacked lighting rig that fostered an elevated visual experience.

    This evening’s stellar performance included samplings of “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” by NYC’s own Beastie Boys and “Can’t Get Enough” by Gramatik’s frequent cohort Griz. Will Magid joined the party on trumpet for a tune, and the crowd was loving every second of this vibrant collaboration. Gramatik noted that this was his last show of 2019 and he sure went out with a bang.

  • In Focus: Disco Biscuits wrap up first part of Fall Tour at State Fairgrounds in Syracuse

    The Disco Biscuits returned to Syracuse for two nights, their first run in the Salt City since Halloween 2015. The masters of live electronica and improvisation performed four flawless sets to enthusiastic crowds at SI Hall at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on November 22 and 23.

    On Friday, following an energetic “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.” opener, guitarist Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig stretched the intro to “Run Like Hell” out for an extended period before a triumphant burst into the Pink Floyd cover, then took the long route into an inverted “Aquatic Ape.” A full “Hot Air Balloon” closed the five song set, one of the few this tour to feature no new material that the band has been breaking out.

    disco biscuits syracuse
    photo by Josh Davis

    Set 2 opened with a pair of ‘global’ tunes, “Jigsaw Earth” and “Story of the World,” the latter of which sandwiched the remained of the set. “Anthem” and “Rocket Science,” two new originals debuted this tour, filled the sandwich, with an “Orch Theme” meshed in between. With the clock ticking, Men Without Hats’ “Safety Dance” served as an encore, with the show ending right at 11pm. A sweaty and smiling crowd rejoiced at one of the finest nights of the tour thus far.

    Disco Biscuits, Syracuse, NY – Friday, November 22 setlist via PhantasyTour:

    Set 1: M.E.M.P.H.I.S. > Run Like Hell1 > Aquatic Ape2 > Svenghali3, Hot Air Balloon
    Set 2: Jigsaw Earth, Story Of The World > Anthem > Orch Theme > Rocket Science > Story Of The World
    Encore: The Safety Dance

    1. unfinished
    2. inverted version
    3. ending only

    The Biscuits’ Saturday performance featured a pair of new songs, a Tractorbeam jam, and one of the best sets from the eight fall shows thus far. Two songs, “Mulberry’s Dream” and “Crickets,” were each interpolated with “Catalyst” and recent debut “4th of July,” respectively. In between these two combos found another new tune, “Electric Slinky,” part of a potential series of ‘Slinky’ songs, including “Freebis Slinky.”

    disco biscuits syracuse
    photo by Josh Davis

    Set 2 was filled with pure heat from start to finish. The four song set featured three roughly-15 minute jams, and one monster jam that went past the half hour mark. Opening with “Clocks,” a debut from earlier this year, the band ventured into “Gangster” which was met with cheers and fist pumps from the audience. What came next was one of the longest jams of the tour (thus far) and the highlight of the weekend. A 30+ minute “Spacebirdmatingcall” featured a Tractorbeam jam on Crackazat’s “Fly Away,” which draws on Earth Wind & Fire’s “I’ve Had Enough” and seemed to never let up as the band dove deep and kept exploring what the jam had to offer. “Little Shimmy in a Conga Line” wrapped up the set nicely, and a pairing of “Frog Legs” and the ending section of “Run Like Hell” from the previous night’s version cemented the night as one of the best of the tour. Setbreak is indeed over.

    The Disco Biscuits head south to Florida for four shows in mid-December, then return to New York City where they will close out the year in Times Square at the Playstation Theater, which will close on December 31st following their performance.

    Disco Biscuits, Syracuse, NY – Saturday, November 23 setlist via PhantasyTour:

    Set 1: Mulberry’s Dream > Catalyst > Mulberry’s Dream, Electric Slinky, Crickets > 4th of July > Crickets
    Set 2: Clocks > Gangster > Spacebirdmatingcall > Tractorbeam Jam1 > Spacebirdmatingcall, Little Shimmy In A Conga Line
    Encore: Frog Legs > Run Like Hell2

    1. Fly Away (Crackazat)
    2. ending only; completes 11/22/19 version
    • photo by Josh Davis
    • photo by Josh Davis
    • disco biscuits syracuse
      photo by Josh Davis
    • photo by Josh Davis
    • disco biscuits syracuse
      photo by Josh Davis
    • disco biscuits syracuse
    • photo by Josh Davis
    • disco biscuits syracuse
      photo by Josh Davis
    • photo by Josh Davis
    • disco biscuits syracuse
      photo by Josh Davis
    • disco biscuits syracuse
      photo by Josh Davis
    • photo by Josh Davis

  • In Focus: Lotus Flavors Cohoes Music Hall with Groove

    The energy level at Cohoes Music Hall was infectious on Thursday, November 21. Wax Future set the tone from their first note, that this was sure to be an epic school night. The main event that followed was nothing short of stellar. Lotus curated two sets that flowed seamlessly and had everyone at Cohoes Music Hall sharing the groove. Check out the full setlist and photo gallery below.

    Set One: Eats The Light, Livingston Storm, One Last Hurrah, Philly hit>Spiritualize>Contagion>Spiritualize, 72 hrs Awake

    Set Two: Move Too Fast>Fortune Favors, Kalea, 128>Comptroller>Echoes, Plant Your Root>128

    Encore: Sunrain

    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall
    • Lotus Cohoes Music Hall

  • In Focus: Disco Biscuits Kick Off Tour In Pittsburgh

    Set break is over! With those four words Disco Biscuits fans rejoiced and prepared for the first tour from the Philly based jamtronica veterans in nearly a decade, with the first stop was at the beautiful Roxian Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA for two nights with 7 Biscuits’ originals spread out over the shows.

    They continue their tour in Richmond, VA, then head north to Burlington, VT and Syracuse, NY next weekend.

    Setlist: Disco Biscuits, Roxian Theatre in Pittsburgh – Thursday, November 14, 2019

    Set 1: Little Betty Boop-> Pimp Blue Rikki-> Little Betty Boop-> Hero*-> Little Betty Boop, Bernstein & Chasnoff-> Miracles (inverted)-> Rocket Science*-> Bernstein & Chasnoff

    Set 2: Spaga, Stars in the Sky*, Spraypaint Victory-> Anthem*-> Spraypaint Victory

    * debut

    Setlist: Disco Biscuits, Roxian Theatre in Pittsburgh – Friday, November 15, 2019

    Set 1: Morph Dusseldorf, King Of The World> We Like To Party> King Of The World, Freebis Slinky*, Above The Waves

    Set 2: Electric Slinky*, 42> The Great Abyss^> 42, Station*, House Dog Party Favor

    Encore: Portal To An Empty Head

    *debut

    ^inverted version; includes jam around Strandbar and Delorean Dynamite by Todd Terje, previously played as Tractorbeam

  • Hearing Aide: Acidhead ‘Distractions’

    Distractions, the debut album from the Brooklyn-based Acidhead coming out on November 15, is a moving opening statement. It’s an honest delivery of feelings and emotions that are often the very essence of being distracted.

    The brainchild of multi instrumentalist Patrick McGee, Acidhead doesn’t say outright that it’s about a breakup but the cues from Kanye West’s 808’s & Heartbreak combined with song titles like the opening narration “Everything Got So Distant” and the album’s single “Throw Away The Time” are obvious hints.

    Distractions lead single “Throw Away The Time.”

    Throughout the album, distorted auto-tuned vocals and 808 beats put McGee’s influence on full display. The second single, “Love Has Me Keep On Dying,” is chock full of the aforementioned effects while the lyrical content drives the emotion forward – “Everyone’s lonely, hearing her voice late in the morning.”

    While each track has strength in their own right, showcasing instrumental fluency and pulling from a variety of styles, the entire track list is cohesive and, ironically, not distracted at all. Each song sits just where it should and even as they are different in their composition, they feel like they all belong together on this album. On the fourth track, “Marciac Doney,” there’s a steadily building and lighthearted instrumental that crescendos into a hard-hitting drum and synth pad jam. Then, track five, “Hanover Rains,” features a straight up piano ballad. It’s nicely even-keeled

    Lending a hand throughout the album are Andrew Forman of Goodfight, Lou Rogai of Lewis & Clarke, and the Rat Trap Pack, McGee’s avant-garde horn ensemble. The closing track “Wrongright” brings the set to it’s conclusion with a manic, guitar-duo-solo but settles down as if to say, “That was a whirlwind. I’m tired, Time to relax”

    Key tracks: Hanover Rains, Throw Away The Time

    You can catch Acidhead on tour in New York and Pennsylvania through mid-December. Be sure to check out Distractions when it drops on November 15.

    11/22/19 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Karl Hall – w/ Lou Rogai, Chukwu

    11/27/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory w/ Jesse and Forever

    11/30/19 – Easton, PA – Connexions Gallery w/Chukwu

    12/7/19 – Beacon, NY – Quinn’s w Jesse and Forever

    12/8/19 – Cambridge, MA -The Lilypad w/ Mario Fabrizio/Phillip Gollub, Wendy Eisenberg, Crylophone

    12/14/19 – New York, NY – Con Artist Collective – w/Amani Fela

    12/15/19 – Ruba Club – Philadelphia, PA w/ Flanafi, Cheeky

  • Toronto duo Crash Adams release first single “Astronauts”

    Crash Adams, a duo from Toronto comprised of Rafaele Massarelli (Crash) and Vince Sasso (Adams), have been around music their entire lives. With Massarelli’s uncle running a studio since before they were born, they’ve been luck enough to use the studio whenever they wanted.

    As a result, the duo produce, write, sing, mix and master all their music, and this week have released their first single, “Astronauts.” The track kicks off their soon to be released EP, and does so with gusto. With a distinct club vibe and a touch of Chromeo-style funk, “Astronauts” is an infectious song for Crash Adams to make an introduction to audiences.

    With an immense range of influences, Crash Adams‘ goal is to make you feel nostalgic, yet inspired.

    Crash says of “Astronauts”:

    “There are so many “astronauts” in the world, they may know it or not, but eventually they will achieve everything they’ve wanted out of their time on earth. It will be hard, and they will be considered different from those who aren’t astronauts. But in the end, the view of earth is greatest from outer space.”

    crash adams

    “Musically, our album is inspired by sounds that spoke to us growing up, and what feelings helped shaped our lives. There are many hidden messages in our brand that will be revealed throughout our journey. We want our sound to be more of a feeling than a genre, and that’s what we’re striving to keep.”

  • Philly electro-rockers Tweed make “Moves” in retro workout video

    With a wildly colorful, multi-screen retro workout music video, Philadelphia’s Tweed had fun in style with the release of “Moves.” The electro-rock powerhouse puts on a bright display of 80s-themed jazzercise and old-school fitness in a Wes Anderson-esqe compilation. Driven by an undeniable groove of thick bass, smooth vocals, and electrifying melody, the song is something you can kick back with, or dance to.

    Tweed cites hometown heroes The Disco Biscuits and Lotus as inspiration, but their music draws from indie rock, electronica, and disco – a combo of Phoenix meets Daft Punk. Having recently added violinist and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Field to the band, you can expect something unique from this lineup as Tweed prepares to release their debut full-length album.

    “The song (“Moves”) was a collaboration since its inception,” notes Tweed drummer, Joe Vela. “From writing in a cabin we rented in North Carolina while on tour, producing with Jeff “Mud” Mahajan and Jesse Miller of Lotus in the studio, to designing the film shoot with our director, Nicholas J Piser, and the help from our film team who made it happen, it was a big team effort.”

    “Moves,” the single for the video, is out now on all streaming platforms and will be featured on Tweed’s debut full-length of the same name expected before the end of 2019. Having already performed at Camp Bisco, Peach Festival, Beardfest, and their hometown curated SENSORiUM Festival, the band has their eyes set on a big 2020.

    Upcoming Fall shows

    11/27 Sprout Music Collective – West Chester, PA

    11/30 The Shaskeen – Manchester, NH

  • Orchard Lounge, DrFameus and Maŕa set for debut performances at Gramercy Theatre in February

    Chicago-based DJ collective Orchard Lounge return to New York City on Friday, February 7 for their first ever performance at Gramercy Theatre, joined by DrFameus and Brooklyn electronic producer Maŕa.

    Orchard Lounge and DrFameus are no strangers to taking the stage together, most recently sharing the bill and even performing with each other at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver. While a rarity that these acts share a bill and stage with one another, they’ll surely be performing together at some point throughout the night.

    DrFameus, the solo electronic music project created by the versatile Disco Biscuits’ drummer Allen Aucoin finds him exploring many musical realms, ranging from breakbeats to drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, techno and house. The performance is a combination of Allen’s live drumming over his original production and different mixes.

    Maŕa, a Brooklyn-based electronic producer, uses her unassuming demeanor and disarming look “to put listeners on their asses.” As the creator of Brooklyn’s Cultivated Sound, she brought a fresh, unique face to the local techno scene, blending blistering hard beats with synthetic and dulling bludgeoning bass. She exudes a raw sexuality when slamming long blended transitions from smoother minimal techno to “bastardly boosted beats”

    Doors open at 10 PM for this show, with tickets available starting at 10am on Friday, November 8.

  • Voodoo Music And Arts Experience 2019

    This past weekend, October 25-27, saw the annual Voodoo Music and Arts Experience took place in the city of New Orleans. The festival, in its tenth edition, boasted a genre spanning lineup that included Guns N’ Roses, Beck, Post Malone, Brandi Carlile, The National, Interpol, Big Gigantic, and Young the Giant. The three-day weekend married the close of the 2019 festival season and featured some creepy crawly Halloween festivities.

    In what seemed to be a Voodoo tradition the first day was plagued by a great deal of rain, leaving the grounds of the beautiful City Park under water and a swampy mess. The dismal weather did not deter the voodoo faithful from kicking off the weekend festivities costumes and all. Sets from up and coming artist Hobo Johnson & The Love Makers, and the amazing Bishop Briggs paved the way for a rainy serenade from Brandi Carlile, and an absolute heater from Guns N’ Roses. The world-famous rockers treated a wet and rowdy crowd to a three-hour career spanning set culminating with a perfectly timed November Rain as the light mist turned back into a steady rain shower.

    As day two arrived so did the sunshine as if summer was peaking in one more time before the winter months took over, allowing festival attendees to dawn their best costumes. This was a full music day that included sets from Young the Giant, The National, and Bassnectar with the ever-talented Beck closing out day 2 with his unique dance party sound. He paid homage to hometown favorites The Meters with a soulful version of Cissy Strut showing just how much love so many musicians have for the city of New Orleans.

    The final day of the festival featured an array of new bands and artists that certainly should be on any music fan’s radar. Temples, a psych rock band from England, proved that British rock is still alive and thriving, blending multiple different styles to create a unique hard rock sound. Minnesota native Hippo Campus brought their billowy melodies and concisely written songs for an amazing afternoon performance on the main stage. The array of great music culminated with a powerful performance from Post Malone. The 24 year old rap star closed this amazing weekend with such stage presence and cockiness. Closing the festival with his hit song “Congratulations” exclaiming to the NOLA faithful “Live your life, live your dream, live your truth, be what you want to be, don’t ever let anyone fuckin’ stop you.” A perfect motto for the attitude that the gritty city of New Orleans exudes everyday.

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