NYS Music 20​19

Category: Funk/Soul/R&B

  • Mungion and the Magic Beans Drop Fall Tour Heat at the Knitting Factory

    Chicago’s Mungion, a funk/rock jam band, and the Magic Beans, another impressive jam band from Boulder, Co, delivered funky fall tour heat at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY. Both bands wrapped up an exciting fall tour on the East Coast together, alternating closing duties nightly. Mungion did the honors at the Knitting Factory. The Bushicks, a local Brooklyn band, opened the evening for these talented bands.

    John Adamski of the Busicks

    The Brooklyn native Bushicks are a power trio hailing around the tri-state region. The band consists of Jonny Patrizio (Vocals/Guitar), Jessica Bogwicz (Bass) and John Adamski (Drums/Vocals). The trio was joined by a saxophonist this evening for most of the set. They delivered their signature rock, including a sweet cover of “Axilla” by Phish.

    Casey Russell, Scott Hachey and Chris Duffy from the Magic Beans are feeling it.

    The Magic Beans wove their tasty funk/soul/rock sounds next. The Bean band members include Scott Hachey (guitar/vocals), Casey Russell (keyboards/vocals), Chris Duffy (bass/vocals), and Cody Wales (drums/vocals). The band began by immediately dropping into a deep jam, showcasing their exceptional improvisational skills, and never looked back. This band specializes in space jam funk, and did not disappoint.

    Mungion

    Mungion picked up the jam vehicle where the Magic Beans left off, and dove into a rocking jam of intricate riffs. This band is made up of Justin Reckamp (guitar), Joe Re (keys), Sean Carolan (bass), and Matt Kellen (drums). The exciting directions, stellar compositions and expressive improvisation were apparent from the first note.

    Scott Hachey of the Magic Beans

    Both the Magic Beans and Mungion are firing on all cylinders after their 2019 fall tour through the East Coast. Mungion is closing out 2019 by playing December 29-31 at Martyr’s in Chicago, Ill. The Magic Beans are playing one night at the Goat in Keystone, Co on December 28. They resume touring with Snowstalk, their own winter festival in Frisco, Co on January 24-25, 2020. The Colorado based lineup includes Kyle Hollingsworth from String Cheese Incident, as well as skiing at Copper Mountain, and is certain to be a special event.

  • Emerald Quintet Delivers a Gem at Brooklyn Bowl; Welcomes James Casey

    In a collaboration that could’ve only been dreamed up in New Orleans, Emerald Quintet, featuring saxophonist Skerik (Garage a Trois), drummer Stanton Moore (Galactic), keyboardist Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars/Mike Gordon), bassist Andy Hess (Government Mule, Black Crowes), and guitarist Scott Metzger (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) took the stage last night as the Brooklyn Bowl channeled its inner Jazz Fest. The group garnered its name as a tribute to the 55th Emerald Anniversary of Jazz Fest earlier this year, where they were formed to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Skerik and Moore’s first time playing the renowned festival together, and on the heels of Skerik’s 1998 debut solo album All Kooked Out. The supergroup treated Brooklyn to a rare and energetic performance on a very limited tour that included a stop in Anchorage, AK in September, and a pair of shows in Ardmore, PA and Denver, CO sandwiching last night’s Brooklyn offering.

    Emerald Quintet

    And they came out swinging! Appropriately opening with “Mardi Gras in New Orleans,” the quintet got right to the funk, passing solos like a baton. Each musician announced his presence in a collective far greater than the sum of its parts.

    “Sprung Monkey” followed, a familiar song that already had the crowd deep into a groove that would never let up. Walter’s solos tickled the crowd while his fingers tickled the black and whites, held down all the while by the best rhythm section in recent memory with Hess’s bass lines and Moore’s funky driving beats. Then Metzger’s turn with the baton, straight ahead guitar solos, no pedals, no effects, purity at the nexus of rock and funk, a touch of his signature blues, taboot.

    How do you follow that? By passing the baton to Skerik of course, a powerhouse saxophonist with not only the chops to pick up where Metzger left off, but probably a large part of the reason why each member of this band pushes each other’s boundaries in all the right ways. 

    Emerald Quintet

    While most of the two-plus hour set was just straight ahead ass-shaking funk, there were moments of delicacy and patience mingled throughout. These intensely brief intervals of darkness, always pulled back by a signature Stanton beat, only served to make the light that much brighter – a true testament to the familiarity and trust shared amongst these musicians. The band was intently listening and reacting to one another, improvising while simultaneously appearing extremely well practiced. Even Peter Shapiro, owner of the Brooklyn Bowl, was on hand, an eager fan like the rest of us, but with an aura of proud papa as he, too, wore a grin from ear to ear. 

    Emerald Quintet

    “Humdinger” was an early highlight from Metzger’s Wolf! Catalog. James Casey, saxophonist (Trey Anastasio Band) joined the stage for a duelling sax number with Skerik that visibly melted the crowd, wrapped up with a spontaneous long note competition that had Skerik checking his watch while he showed off his impressive lung capacity. “Don’t Chin the Dog” highlighted both Robert Walter’s songbook and Metzger’s unbelievable talent. A cover of The Band’s “Ophelia” gave the crowd it’s only chance for a singalong before the set closing “Funky Mule.” “Who Took the Happiness,” also played by Galactic in the New Orleans tradition, was the first of a two-song encore kept the crowd grooving past the two-hour mark. 

    For those smart enough to be there, this was a truly special night in Brooklyn. Top shelf musicians pushing and validating each other, listening and reacting, smiling and having fun, appreciating the rarity of the occasion and the delight of the crowd in equal measure, for what may very well be one of the year’s best sets. 

    Setlist (via Robert Walter): Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Sprung Monkey, Aquafresh, Humdinger, Chalk Giant, Calm Down Cologne, Ironic Twist, Don’t Chin the Dog, Ophelia, Funky Mule, Who Took the Happiness, Kickin Up Dust.

  • Restless World Music drops haunting R&B single “Cyclone”

    Yesterday, Restless World Music released their third single, “Cyclone,” on the heels of two singles, “Stratosphere” and “Ashes” which premiered earlier this year. “Cyclone” is the third of four singles that precede the group’s EP, due out in 2020.

    The Washington, D.C. based group says of the track:

    Sometimes love leaves with a whisper, slipping through our fingers. Other times, loves leaves nothing behind but wreckage, and no matter what – or who – we try, nothing can replace it.

    No matter how you’ve experienced love leaving your life, “Cyclone” illuminates the feeling that is left behind. Showcased by an inspired male vocal bringing heat over a dark atmospheric R&B/trap beat, lyrics such as “my life’s a ghost town, when you’re not around” will hit home.

    Prior to “Cyclone,” songs by Restless World Music have won several songwriting awards, including five years in a row of recognition in the Great American Song Contest, with two first-place wins (in Pop in 2012 and in R&B in 2016). The Great American Song Contest recognized Restless World Music on Facebook for being one of only two songwriters in 17 years to win first-place honors in two of their songwriting categories.

    restless world music restless world music

  • Listen to the Soulful “Holding Me Down” by Danielle Ponder

    Rochester native Danielle Ponder, former public defender and now full time musician, has released her latest single “Holding Me Down.” Rife with emotion, “Holding Me Down” shares the pain and struggle found in relationships, and is the lead track on her upcoming album, due in Spring 2020.

    Ponder says of the upcoming album:

    This album is probably my most vulnerable work. I wrote this song one night at 2 am sitting at my dining room table. This song describes the struggle many have in relationships, the struggle between a heart that want to stay and a mind that want to go.

    Danielle has spent the past few years rendering goose bumps by perfecting her style, with charismatic performance. The result of her focus and dedication is a tone that is both enchanting and seductive, along with a riveting, honest stage presence. Her voice has helped secure gigs opening for powerhouses such as George Clinton, Ledisi and The Roots.

    “Holding me Down” was produced by John Viviani, whom Danielle Ponder previously worked with in the band Filthy Funk, with additional production by Dave Drago at his 1809 Studios. The song also features Tony Gallicho from Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad on organ.

    Danielle Ponder has an upcoming show on January 31 in Rochester. This special acoustic show will be open to only 300 attendees and will be held in the oldest building in Rochester. More details will be shared through Ponder’s website.

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters to Headline Boston Calling

    The headliners for the 2020 Boston Calling Music Festival have been announced—and they include Grammy-winning rock bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters. The annual extravaganza, set to take place on Memorial Day Weekend between May 22-24 at the Harvard Athletic Complex, will also have over 60 other artists and bands performing.

    The Boston-based music festival began in 2013 and previously took place during the spring and fall, before switching to their now once-a-year format. Always a popular event, the festival has drawn as many as 40,000 people and has seen the likes of Eminem, Travis Scott and Twenty-One Pilots headline previous events.

    Aside from the performances, the festival will include the best food in Boston. A 100-foot Ferris wheel, art installations, life-size games, exciting partner activations, 30 all-star food vendors, local and international brews, wines and seltzers and platinum menus curated by Boston’s most prestigious chefs, according to the Boston Calling official website.

    “Boston is such a great city for rock music, and we are so proud to bring some of the most important rock artists of all time to Boston Calling next Memorial Day Weekend,” said Boston Calling CEO Brian Appel in an official release.

    Limited pre-sale tickets will be made available on, Thursday, Nov. 14, at 10:00 a.m. General admission tickets will be priced at $239, VIP passes will be $549 and platinum passes will be $1049.

  • Toro y Moi Unveils ‘Soul Trash’ for Sold Out Run at Brooklyn Steel

    Toro y Moi (aka Chaz Bundick) has been going strong ever since he broke onto the scene at the start of the decade, and 2019 has proven to be no exception. Back in January, Chaz released the excellent album Outer Peace and has been touring on and off since. Now, just as the fall tour was wrapping up with two sold out nights at Brooklyn Steel, Chaz dropped a surprise LP, Soul Trash.

    Toro y Moi at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Support for the fall tour came from exciting newcomer Channel Tres. His infectious blend of hip-hop and deep house kept the packed Brooklyn Steel dance floor moving for the entire opening set. Flanked by two backup dancers and thunderous house beats, Channel Tres performed his entire 2019 release Black Moses, including the hit “Sexy Black Timberlake.” The set was rounded off with other singles like “Topdown” and “Jet Black.” The future is incredibly bright for Channel Tres, including much anticipation for a full length LP. He has several West Coast dates coming up, with a show at Elsewhere’s Zone One next May.

    Channel Tres at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello
    Channel Tres at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Toro y Moi has a very unique blend of styles. One of the few surviving bands from the chill-wave movement, Toro has maintained success by mixing elements of classic R&B and disco with more modern electronica and indie palettes. Each release takes a new approach to these sounds and keeps the ever growing Toro y Moi discography fresh and exciting.

    With so much material to draw from, including the new LP Soul Trash released just two weeks before, the set provided by Toro y Moi was truly representative of his entire discography. The title track “Soul Trash” opened the show, while tracks from Outer Peace included “Ordinary Pleasure” and “Freelance” (which closed out the show). A personal favorite, “Rose Quartz” from the incredible 2013 LP Anything in Return, echoed effortlessly around the room. The band glided through a 21-song set without a single dull moment.

    Chaz Bundick of Toro y Moi at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Saturday night was the last show of the current tour, with a late night DJ set at Elsewhere just to top it all off. Chaz has some DJ sets scheduled out west in December, but for now, we just look forward to what he has in store for 2020.

  • Premiere: The Big Takeover’s lively and soulful”Where Did I Go Wrong?”

    New York reggae-pop band The Big Takeover have released ‘Where Did I go Wrong?,” off the band’s upcoming fifth album Spilling Water. The track was self-produced by The Big Takeover and mixed by Pete Hanlon, and is due out on Friday, November 15.

    Fronted by the charismatic Jamaican-born singer/songwriter Nee Nee Rushie, The Big Takeover blend Jamaican pop traditions with the spirit of Motown and uptown sophistication of the 21st-century retro soul and R&B revival scene. Rushie says of the song:

    “‘Where Did I Go Wrong?’ is a personal experience about being rejected by someone that you know wants to be with you. It explores the complication of feeling someone pushing you away, but reaching out to you at the same time.”

    Where Did I Go Wrong

    The Big Takeover’s sound channels melodic, big band arrangements of 60s and 70s soul music, with high-energy grooves of popular Jamaican music. This rich sound and rigorous touring schedule has led the band to share the stage with The Wailers, Sister Sparrow, Jefferson Starship, Pete Seeger, The Slackers, Toots & The Maytals, and many more. The group’s first single off Spilling Water, “Shy,” was released earlier this summer. An album is expected in 2020.

    In 2018, the band shared a cover of Sophia George’s 1985 dancehall hit, “Girlie Girlie,” which was recorded as part of a UK compilation album featuring 40 covers of classic Trojan Records hits from artists around the world.

    The Big Takeover Tour Dates

    Nov 22 – Battleboro, VT @ Stone Church

    Nov 29 – New York, NY @ DROM

    Jan 10 – Boston, MA @ The Beehive

    Jan 11 – Cambridge, MA @ The Beat Brewhall

    June 13 – Hampton, VA @ Supernova Ska Festival

  • Turkuaz enters new phase, ditch color for ‘Kuadrochrome’ EP, due out November 22

    A new era dawns for Brooklyn’s Turkuaz, who have shed their bright rainbow hues as they prepare to enter Kuadrochrome, the title of their new EP due out November 22. In support of the new release, the band has added additional tour dates for early 2020, with all upcoming dates branded as part of the Kuadrochrome Tour.

    turkuaz kuadrochrome

    “As autumn continues to set in, the change around us is impossible to ignore,” Turkuaz frontman, Dave Brandwein, shared in a statement. “As with all aspects of life, nothing ever stays the same. Things come and go, and change itself is the only thing we can all count on. For the past five years, Turkuaz has been on a colorful journey all across the U.S. and more recently, around the world. But the time has come to move on to a new era.”

    What the band dubs a “visual palate cleanser” ushers in an epoch of black, white, grey and tan. Turkuaz is excited to keep things fresh, for both themselves and the fans, as they look forward into the future.

    “The band is more collaborative than ever before and seeks to unite our energy in a different way,” Brandwein added on the change. “The four tone scheme with chrome accents sets the mood for an era harkening back to the funk and soul that the band’s music was born out of.”

    As many fans are already aware, the “colors” age is now forever encapsulated in the band’s feature concert film, None’s a Ton, slated for wide release sometime this winter. The film showcases how the nine monochromatic band members each individually brought their own style, talent and presence to the Turkuaz stage as the band moves towards an era of more cohesion and collaboration. 

    A special fan pre-sale for the newly announced 2020 tour dates is going on now with general on sale beginning Friday, November 15th at 10 AM local time. Find a full list of upcoming dates below and head over to the band’s website for tickets and more info on specific dates.

    Turkuaz upcoming tour dates:

    12/5 – Fairfield, CT – Warehouse *
    12/6 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of The Living Arts *
    12/12 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bells Brewery ^
    12/13 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue Theater ^
    12/14 – Nashville, TN – Exit / In ^
    12/27 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre #
    12/28 & 12/29 – Frisco, CO – 10 Mile Music Hall #
    12/31 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater #
    1/7 – 1/12 – Miami, FL – Jam Cruise
    1/15 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn ~
    1/16 – Savannah, GA – Victory, North ~
    1/17 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre ~
    1/18 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre ~
    1/23 – Chattanooga, TN – Songbirds ~
    1/24 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater ~
    1/25 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theatre ~
    1/30 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon ~
    1/31 – Chicago, IL – Park West
    2/1 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe ~

    * w/ Great Time
    ^ w/ Paris Monster
    # w/ Swaktins & The Positive Agenda
    ~ w/ Neal Francis

  • Michael Franti and Spearhead Deliver Positive Vibes to the Wellmont Theater

    The audience was told to hug a neighbor at least five times. Lyrics such as “They say that miracles are never ceasing / And every single soul needs a little release” were heard. This positive vibe radiated from Michael Franti and Spearhead, a hip hop-reggae-funk fusion band from California, as they performed at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ last week. The band also brought awareness to social issues and sparked authentic human interactions in the Garden State.

    Carl Young and Michael Franti

    The band members include Michael Franti (guitar, vocals), Carl Young (bass), Manas Itiene (Drums), J. Bowman (guitar), Mike Blankenship (keyboards), and an unidentified female vocalist.

    Gun violence statistics of every mass shooting in the USA scroll behind Michael Franti and Spearhead.

    The positive message and awareness to social issues stood out in a meaningful way. Franti’s recent song “The Flower,” a tribute to victims of gun violence, featured a video with survivors and scrolling gun violence statistics. Songs like “Just Work Hard And Be Nice To People” and “Good To Be Alive Today” brought a positive message mixed with short jams.

    Franti and an unidentified vocalist sing “Life Is Better With You”

    Strong musical skills were displayed during a flawless switch from Lionel Ritchie’s “All Night Long” to “Life Is Better With You.” The band was joined by an unidentified guest vocalist for this sequence, which included the original video of “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie on an LED screen behind the band.

    Franti was engaged with the entire audience, not just those in the front row. He sang two songs while on the floor, in the middle of the crowd. He also took a quick adventure to the balcony for a few verses. A myriad number of fans were brought on stage, including a couple who got engaged, and all the children on the floor during “Say Hey (I Love You).”

    The band has a couple of tour dates left in 2019 and will be on tour with Kenny Chesney in 2020. Head over to their tour page for more details.

  • 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.

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