NYS Music 20​19

Category: Genres

  • 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.

  • The Black Crowes Reunite for ‘Shake Your Money Maker’ 30th Anniversary

    It has been six years since The Black Crowes played their final show on December 14, 2013, but over the last few months, rumors have been running rampant about a reunion. Last month, the Wall Street Journal published an article stating many industry sources have hinted something was in the works for a Black Crowes reunion. Last week the band’s social media accounts and website were updated with new art, and earlier this week there were reports of digital billboards with the same artwork in Wisconsin from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

    The initial dates of the anniversary tour were announced the early hours of November 9, when the poster showed up on an electronic billboard in New York City’s Penn Station. On July 17, 2020 at PNC Bank Arts Center and July 18 at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, The Black Crowes will reunite for the 30th anniversary of their debut album ‘Shake Your Money Maker,’ by playing the album in its entirety along with “all the hits.”

    The reunion is rumored to be led by founding brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, whose often strained relationship was what caused the band to break up not just in 2015 but also back in 2002. When former drummer and founding member of Black Crowes, Steve Gorman, was approached about the reunion he said the band will not likely be bringing in members from the past.

    I think they’re in a place where, I would imagine, they’re not interested in having anybody from the past work with them. It just makes it cleaner and easier, because to bring people back to do it right, you have a lot of explaining to do, you have a lot of apologizing to do, and you’ve gotta make up for a lot of damage you’ve caused.

    Steve Gorman – Former drummer and founding member of The Balck Crowes

    The band broke up in 2015 over what seemed to be one of the many arguments between the Robinson brothers. In January of 2015, Rich Robinson released a statement announcing the band’s break-up, going into some detail about discrepancies over band ownership and money.

  • Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Leftover Salmon release sounds in support of Backline

    On the heels of the Jeff Austin tribute show ‘What the Night Brings,’ Backline has announced the release of two singles by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Leftover Salmon, both of whom have joined Backline as partners.

    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong released “Dawn a New Day,” a psychedelia-inspired lyric video via Billboard in announcing their partnership with Backline, in an effort to help those struggling with mental health “dawn a new day.” Contributions to Backline’s “Dawn A New Day” fundraiser can be made .

    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong singer and guitarist Greg Ormont said in a statement:

    “Our new single ‘Dawn A New Day’ is all about looking on the sunny side of life. We’ve been fortunate to be able to spread that message of positivity to The Flock for years now, and we’re always looking for even more ways to give back. While we always encourage people to ‘dawn a new day’ when they’re experiencing a difficult chapter in their lives, we also recognize that it’s easier said than done. It made perfect sense to partner with Backline around this single to help raise awareness about mental health and offer a direct line to mental health resources for those who need it. We’re honored to give back to the music community in this way and we’re determined to find even more ways to help people ‘dawn a new day’ moving forward.”

    Likewise, Leftover Salmon, a band with a close connection to the late Jeff Austin, released “Songs You’ve Left Unsung” as a tribute their dear friend. The song was penned by Leftover Salmon bassist Greg Garrison and is available via Backline.Care in a ‘pay what you want’ format.

    Greg Garrison shared the following about “Songs You’ve Left Unsung” and his memories of his friend:

    “I first met Jeff Austin when we were in 7th grade. Through the 80’s and 90’s, we somehow always wound up in the same places at the same times…Rolling Meadows, IL as kids, Decatur and Urbana, IL during our college years, and eventually Colorado as adults. And then, maybe predictably, as members of touring bands in the same scene. “Songs You’ve Left Unsung” is a reflection on some of these times…the verses move chronologically, starting in Illinois and winding up in Colorado. The chorus is meant to be bittersweet but also hopeful for those of us that are still here writing songs, experiencing music, raising families and living life with all of its turbulent ups and downs.”

    Garrison spoke of his connection to Backline, noting:

    “I think their mission is exceptionally important; providing mental health and wellness support to people in the music industry while also providing an opportunity for those of us who deal with issues like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse to share our stories. Hopefully, these stories will provide comfort, clarity, support, inspiration and a helping hand to anyone who is in need.”

    Backline is a hub for music industry professionals and their families to quickly and easily access mental health and wellness resources. Backline has partnered with leading support organizations and care providers to streamline access to a wealth of services and educational resources specifically geared towards this work and lifestyle. A hub to discover existing organizations, unique content, peer networks, and case managers who can help create a plan that addresses your unique mental health and wellness challenges–on and off the road, the website was created by music industry professionals for music industry professionals. More information is available at Backline.care.

    PPPP will perform in Buffalo December 13-14 at Town Ballroom, with Lespecial supporting them on December 13. For a full list of upcoming tour dates visit Pigeons’ website.

    Leftover Salmon are currently on tour, with Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman embarking on an acoustic tour in December with New York dates in February.

  • Hearing Aide: Jess Novak and Ben Wayne ‘Rise’

    The Syracuse based duo, Jess Novak & Ben Wayne, are dropping their four track EP Rise today, November 10, across all streaming platforms. This alternative Indie-folk rock-duo fused their previous individual works with their environmental inspiration while recording in Nashville, Tennessee to breed Rise. The EP builds on both their individual strengths from Wayne’s Southern California rock and reggae roots, and Novak’s distinct violin, songwriting and vocal skills, which are well recognized with her winning Best Female Vocalist by the Syracuse New Times back in 2018.

    Ben Wayne (left) and Jess Novak (right) promotional picture for Rise.

    The EP opens with the song, “After All” which has a distinctly doo-wop rhythm to it. In conjunction with Novak’s vocals it differs from every other song coming up on your favorite streaming service. It’s a refreshingly unique combination of doo-wop and alt-rock that we don’t hear nearly enough. With the rhythm section being layered with lead guitar, carrying an almost country feel, the song is hard to categorize into one singular genre. A trend of Rise in general. It’s not one singular sound. It’s not one singular genre. It is a little bit of its own thing – which is one reason it’s so enjoyable and a well rounded.

    The second track “Carousel” is a known Ben Wayne song. While Jess Novak writes and takes the lead vocals on the other three tracks, Wayne leads on this hauntingly beautiful and painful song. It starts with a little walking bass line on the acoustic guitar played by Wayne and a violin smoothly dropping in, with Wayne’s drawl starting shortly after. The song revolves around accepting that things are coming to an end and letting the other person go even though you could still be happy with them. It’s the kind of song you listen to on repeat with your headphones stuck in your ears, escaping the world, or maybe more correctly escaping your own carousel that you are stuck on. 

    Ben Wayne (front) and Jess Novak (back) promotional picture for Rise.

    “Here to Stay,” an abrupt change from “Carousel,” fits Rise‘s diverse musical and artistic showcase of both Novak and Wayne’s talents. They don’t have to stick to one particular sound or genre or tempo. The song is heavy on Novak’s vocals without Wayne backing on it much if at all. This track really stars Novak’s accompanying band which is made up of Jeff King on guitar, Steve Brewster on drums, Mark Hill on bass, Tim McDonald on keyboards, and of course Jess Novak on Violin. Between the tempo changes, build ups and guitar riffs it’s definitely a track that is beyond vocally focussed and gives credit to all the great musicians involved. 

    “Ripper” swings. It has and upbeat, dance-tempo, making it hard for you to sit still. You will find yourself bobbing your head without meaning to. The song has a similar sound as “Here to Stay,” with more punch to it. With the topic of having your heart ripped out and being excited about it, it’s not the most common motif.

    The EP had help from producer Bill Warner and songwriter Kirsti Manna, who is best known for her work with Blake Shelton. Rise is a powerful piece of work made by Jess Novak & Ben Wayne. It’s something worth listening to if you’re looking for new music to add to your arsenal. The EP release party is at The Ridge located at 1281 Salt Springs Rd, Chittenango, NY 13037 on November 10th at 3PM. For more information check out Jess Novak’s website and Ben Wayne’s website.

    Key Tracks: Carousel, Here to Stay.

  • Grateful Shred Opens East West Tour With Three Night Run at Brooklyn Bowl

    With no shortage of bands playing homage to the Grateful Dead catalog, Los Angeles based Grateful Shred is quickly distinguishing themselves in this crowded space. The band welcomed Adam MacDougall, formerly of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and bandmate of bassist Dan Horne with Circles Around the Sun, on B3 and keyboards to kick off their East West tour last night at the Brooklyn Bowl. This was the first of three consecutive shows at the Bowl and second such run this calendar year after an earlier run this past March. Joining MacDougall were founding members Horne and guitar trio Austin McCutchen, Sam Blasucci, and Clay Finch, along with a pair of drummers.

    Grateful Shred

    The three guitar format is largely responsible for what gives Grateful Shred their signature sound, and likely their name as well, though Horne’s bass is also a driving force. MacDougall made his presence known early and often, treating the crowd to some masterful work on the Hammond and Moog. “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” a Rolling Stones tune from the JGB catalog, got the crowd into an early groove, Sam Blasucci on lead vocals. Like one of those old what’s wrong with this picture cartoons, it might take the casual observer a minute to notice that southpaw Blasucci is shredding his lefty solos on a righty guitar played upside down, a la Jimi Hendrix. “New Minglewood Blues” was next with a fierce solo from MacDougall before a return to the JGB catalog with Jimmy Cliff’s “Harder They Come.” “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain” preceded the set, closing with “Deal.”

    Grateful Shred

    The second set got underway with a frenzied “Cumberland Blues” featuring gorgeous harmonies from the three guitarists on top of a sweltering bass line from Horne. “Mexicali Blues” was next, the third song of the night with blues in the title. “Reuben and Cerise” was the first JGB cover actually written by Garcia with lyrics by Robert Hunter, though the Grateful Dead did play it four times, as well. A lovely “Mississippi Half-Step” sung by Clay with piercing solos to match was up next before a “Playing in the Band” > “Mountains of the Moon” > “Playing in the Band” combination that went deep and got a little spacey, sans drum solo.

    The set closed with a final offering from the JGB catalog, Allen Toussaint’s “Get Out of My Life Woman” before a fiery “Jack Straw” closed. After a brief respite, “US Blues” took the encore slot and wrapped up the 90-minute set.

    Grateful Shred

    Grateful Shred returns to Brooklyn Bowl to finish their run Friday and Saturday before heading back to California to finish the East West tour. All three Brooklyn Bowl shows have free webcasts on the Relix channel. Check out last night’s stream below.

    Set One: Let’s Spend the Night Together, New Minglewood Blues, Harder They Come, Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Deal.

    Set Two: Cumberland Blues, Mexicali Blues, Reuben and Cerise, Mississippi Half-Step, Playin’ in the Band > Mountains of the Moon > Playing in the Band, Get Out of My Life Woman, Jack Straw.

    Encore: U.S. Blues.

  • Hearing Aide: Aqueous ‘Burn it Down’

    Buffalo-based four-piece, Aqueous, explores their indie dance-rock roots with their latest EP ‘Burn it Down.’ Comprised of Mike Gantzer (vocals/guitar), Dave Loss (guitar/keys/vocals), Evan McPhaden (bass), and Rob Houk (drums), Aqueous has been evolving, and this EP embodies that evolution. It consists of four songs, all between 3 to 4 minutes long. Though each song has it’s own Aqueous groove, but you can also hear the heavy influences in each one; going from a rebellious indie-rock jam in the album’s title song to an electro-pop rock dance anthem with “On the Edge.”

    Burn It Down signifies a straight up paradigm shift for Aqueous. We dove headlong into our rock, indie, and dance roots, and put a much sharper focus on concise, badass rock and roll song writing. We really wanted to further explore a certain attitude that has always been a part of all of us but that might’ve been a little underrepresented in our music up until now. 

    Mike Gantzer – Aqueous (guitar/vocals)

    The band is in the first leg of an extensive fall tour, and they have been subtly teasing fans with the EP by covering songs that heavily influenced the music. These include songs from Weezer, Chromeo, Blink-182, Queens of the Stone Age, Tears for Fears and more.

    While the EP is not what fans would normally expect from Aqueous, it is no doubt catchy and exciting. Aqueous has always been well known for their songwriting, and this is highlighted in the EP. Burn it Down sends a powerful message about living your personal truth. It tells a story of a fresh start rising from the ashes.

    This EP is about not being afraid to stand up and make a change that will get you closer to living your truth, whatever that might be. It’s about self honesty, and about questioning unhealthy situations and relationships, and calling bullshit when it needs to be called. It’s meant to say ‘whatever your situation is, it’s never too late to just tear the whole thing down and start over’. 

    Mike Gantzer

    Burn it Down is available on all streaming platforms now.

    Key Tracks: On the Edge, Little Something to Me

  • In Focus: Marshall Tucker Band Keeps Southern Rock Alive At The Skyloft

    The Marshall Tucker Band was ‘born’ in Spartanburg, S.C. when Doug Gray teamed up with Tommy and Toy Caldwell, Paul T. Riddle, George McCorkle, and Jerry Eubanks. The name “Marshall Tucker” came from a piano tuner whose name was found on a key ring in their old rehearsal space. In 1973 Marshall Tucker Band opened for The Allman Brothers Band, and the following year, they began to headline their own shows.

    Marcus James Henderson – Multi-instrumentalist

    The SkyLoft in Albany, NY Crossgates Mall, was almost at full capacity on Saturday night, November 2, 2019. The crowd cheered as Doug Gray, the only original member of The Marshall Tucker Band, took center stage.
    At 71, and fronting the band since 1972, he still held his own.

    Gray almost took on the part of an orchestra conductor, when he wasn’t belting out a crowd favorite. He would share the moments with the highly talented band members, who proved their musical chops, which included a 13-minute version of the bands’ well-received hit, “Can’t You See.”

    “This is one song that’s played eight million times on the radio,” Gray told the crowd. “I want you to sing it with us.” And they did. Gray handed the microphone to two fans in the front row, and they sang a few bars. He then tossed his tambourine into the audience, and the crowd cheered again. You can see the appreciation in Gray’s eyes. The moment, it seemed, to say thank you for all the support over so many years. Truly, this must be what it is all about.

    With many southern rock bands, such as The Allman Brothers not performing any longer, and Lynyrd Skynyrd on their last tour, The Marshall Tucker Band kept the genre going. Today, the band members have all changed, with the exception of Gray. B.B. Borden is on drums, Tony Black, bass and vocals, Marcus James Henderson, commands keyboard, saxophone, flute, and vocals. Chris Hicks and Rick Willis shred the guitar and vocals.

    Fans become part of the show as Gray hands over the mic

    Similar to many of the crooners still touring of his generation, Gray did not sing on every song, he stuck to the classics and let the younger crew take charge, and take charge they did. Each band member had at least one showcase of their talent, with Henderson and his multi-instrumentals taking much of the spotlight. Chris Hicks wailed on guitar and vocals, sounding strong. After “Take The Highway,” Borden did an amazingly-energetic drum solo, which caused standing fans to inch closer into the magic. Recent American Idol finalist, Madison VanDenburg, made a brief visit to take the stage, and tambourine. The generation gap was evident, as she didn’t know the song as Gray tried to prompt her.

    If you are able to see this show, you owe it to yourself to do so. One can only hope the hard work and extended tour will help keep this genre alive for many more generations.

    Chris Hicks

    One of the few bands of this generation still doing an extended tour. You can find many upcoming shows on the band’s website

    Setlist: “Running like the Wind”, This Old Cowboy”, “Hillbilly Band”, “Take the Highway”, “Blue Ridge”, “Fire on the Mountain”, “24 Hours”, “Midnight Promises”, ” I’ll Be Loving You”, “Can’t you See”.

  • 2nd Generation Wu Release Debut Single

    The Wu Tang Clan legacy is alive and well, and is being carried on through the children of some of the iconic group’s more charismatic members. 2nd Generation Wu is comprised of iNTeLL (son of U-God), PXWER (son of Method Man), SUN GOD (son of Ghostface Killah), and Young Dirty Bastard (son of the late Old Dirty Bastard).

    While they each have their own respective solo careers and records, the second generation rappers have decided to come together to continue the legacy left by their fathers, and have taken the first step in doing so, with the release of “7.O.D.”

    The Jojo Pellegrino and J. Glaze produced record sees the younger Wu’s put their own spin on the Wu-Tang Clan’s most recognizable song, C.R.E.A.M.  The record, while an ode to the legends that preceded them, does not stop the young emcees from distinguishing themselves and making it their own.

    Aside from delivering their own personal lyrical warfare throughout the song, the famous line that Method Man employs on the original record, “Cash rules everything around me C.R.E.A.M., get the money, dollar, dollar bill y’all,” has been changed to, “God made everything around me, forget about the money, none of it is real y’all.” Showing that the new Wu is quite aware of their different upbringing, proving the content won’t always be the same. One thing that seems to be everlasting though, is the grittiness of the beats and the rhymes.

  • Hearing Aide: Citris ‘Delusions of Glamour’

    Brooklyn’s Citris has an animated energy synonymous with an experienced on the L-Train, when some bare chested entrepreneurs decided to bust into a dance routine. It’s a flash of joy when the rest of the day remains unsurprising; it’s that sort of spontaneity and uncertainty that Delusions of Glamour inspires.

    Citris has grunge rock principles, but remind listeners of experimental metal. While they’ve been described as a ‘pop grunge act,’ “Hell is a Place on Earth” vibrated with metal nuances, instantly. It’s Gwar infused with System of a Down’s political and social angst.

    Cirtis’ Angelina Torreano experiments with vocal passages, vocoder layering, and finds a way to lyrically loop varying emotional moods within a single song.

    Delusions of Glamour will also appeal to fans of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors. It has solid, intricate drumming, lyrical themes of toxic relationships and societal disagreements, and incredible instrumentation throughout. They’re never scared to have intricate harmonies, with little bass lines like in the song “Genetic Makeup” that keep your ears glued to the track. Citris is a group to stream and enjoy during the remaining bitter sweet days of autumn.

    Key Tracks: Genetic Makeup, Hell is a Place on Earth

  • Jeffrey Martin and The Sea The Sea Sing for Folks in Rochester

    A Saturday night crowd, on a Monday, settled in for a wonderful night of folk songs in the cozy and warm exposed-brick confines of Restaurant Good Luck. Honest Folk Presents brought in two great artists representing both coasts. The crowd was familiar with Portland Oregon’s Jeffrey Martin, making his third stop at the venue. The Sea The Sea, from the much closer Troy, however, were making their first appearance in Rochester and would open the night.

    A male/female duo, featuring Mira and Chuck Costa, The Sea The Sea moved effortlessly between electric and acoustic guitars, a small percussion setup and an even smaller keyboard, mixing different combinations of sounds. Regardless of the instrumentation, their beautiful two-part harmonies were the true highlight throughout the night. It was remarkable how perfect their voices blended together, making a signature sound. They featured them so regularly that it started to become two parts of a single voice. On the rare occasions when only one voice rang out, it was almost as if one of the channels on the stereo was faulty.

    The pair has spent a good deal of the past year on the road, and also recently relocated to Troy, both of which have been providing inspiration for a bevy of fresh new tunes, some of which they shared, like “Foreign Country” and “Stumbling Home.” Most of the set was filled with their more well-worn material, like the palindromic “Love We Are We Love” and the familial “Good For Something.” They rounded those out with two choice covers, the Bob Dylan deep cut “I’ll Keep It With Mine,” and “No Love Today” from the under-appreciated songwriter Chris Smither.

    Jeffrey Martin was last on the Good Luck stage almost exactly two years to the day from this night. It was in fact the Monday after the end of daylight savings, just as it was on his previous visit. Martin’s music doesn’t really evoke blue skies and sunshine, so the fact that it was middle-of-the-night dark throughout the show, which ended at the Monday-friendly hour of 9:45, was very welcome. Perhaps it was both genius and coincidence.

    For an hour Martin held court on the Good Luck stage, telling stories both in song and out. Though sometimes it was hard to tell the difference, as he noodled on his guitar during his between-song bantering and there was just something lyrical about the way he spoke. Some of the stories spanned the songs that interjected, and the songs always related somehow with the stories. Some of the stories inspired the songs, sometimes real life followed the songs, and other times the story and the song were one and the same. Stories, songs, acoustic guitar and a rich singular voice made for about as pure a folk show as you can achieve. Seems so simple, and yet it’s so hard to achieve, but Jeffrey Martin pulled it off with a natural and unfettered brilliance. It’s no wonder Honest Folk has booked him again and again.

    As for the next Honest Folk show, they’ve just announced twin-brother outfit, appropriately named The Brother Brothers, who will be at The Arbor Loft on Wednesday December 11. Tickets are on sale now at early bird pricing for a limited time.

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