NYS Music 20​19

Category: Genres

  • 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.

  • Holographic Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly Come to New York

    The ‘Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Dream Tour’ will be coming to New York in November. This once in a lifetime tour began in September and has made several stops along the way throughout North America. Now fans from New York will have a turn to see this duo in concert. First up will be at  The Egg in Albany on Nov. 15 before moving to Rochester’s Auditorium Theatre on Nov. 17.

    Developed and produced by BASE Hologram, the audience will be treated to a high tech holographic performance with the accompaniment of a live band and back-up singers, all coming together to bring to life many of Orbison and Holly’s best hits. Eric Shaeffer (Million Dollar Quartet) will return as the director. In 2018 Shaeffer led the extremely successful ‘In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert’ tour across the world breaking many records.

    “When you look at the architects of the Rock and Roll era, the names that come to mind are Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly,” said Brian Becker, Chairman and CEO of BASE Hologram, the leading content developer, producer and distributor of concerts, theatricals and spectacles that combine holographic cinema and mixed reality with live entertainment. “Both of these men weren’t just gifted musicians, but skillful innovators who helped influence others in game-changing ways.”

    “These men weren’t just one thing – they were artists in every sense of the word,” said BASE Hologram CEO of Production Marty Tudor.  “Like Roy, Buddy has a truly impressive songbook and in many cases, audiences may not have realized he was the one behind so many hits. Part of the beauty of these productions is we get to share the legacy of these performers and remind people of the full range of their talent.”

    Despite several jam and recording sessions, these two rock and roll trailblazers have never toured together. Combined they have earned 16 platinum and 19 gold records, dozens of hits and 10 GRAMMY Awards combined. Being of a different era has not stopped these two from having three million Facebook followers and five million streams monthly on Spotify. To this day their musical capabilities captivate millions.

    Information is available here for the tour that continues throughout the month of November.
     
    North America Tour Dates

    Nov.1 – Au-Rene at Broward Center  – Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Nov.2 – Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts – Melbourne, FL
    Nov.3 – Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, FL
    Nov.4 – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall – Sarasota, FL
    Nov.6 – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL
    Nov.8 – Atlanta Symphony Hall – Atlanta, GA
    Nov.9 – Memorial Auditorium – Raleigh, NC
    Nov.10 – Scottish Rite Auditorium – Collingswood, NJ
    Nov.12 – State Theatre – New Brunswick, NJ
    Nov.13 – AMP by Strathmore – North Bethesda, MD
    Nov.15 – The Egg – Albany, NY
    Nov.16 – Boch Center Shubert Theatre – Boston, MA
    Nov.17 – Auditorium Theatre – Rochester, NY
    Nov.19 – FirstOntario Concert Hall – Hamilton, ON
    Nov.20 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON

  • Sweet Honey in the Rock celebrates 45 years, will stop in Albany this December

    Celebrating their 45th anniversary in 2019, Sweet Honey In The Rock remains among the most vibrant, versatile and ever relevant musical collectives around today. Together, they perform an inspiring signature mix of soul, gospel, folk and world music, with elements of hip-hop and jazz. 

    While founding member Bernice Johnson Reagon has since retired, the torch continues to be carried by longtime members Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, and featured musician Romeir Mendez. This powerful and unique female a cappella vocal quartet is best known for their uplifting concerts. 

    Sweet Honey in the Rock

    Sweet Honey in the Rock will “Celebrate the Holydays” with a selection of traditional American holiday spirituals and hymns, as well as songs from other cultures.

  • Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt announce Acoustic Duo Tour

    Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon will hit the road as an acoustic duo tour this winter, with dates stretching across the Midwest and East Coast.

    The two long-time collaborators are hitting the road for a rare run of acoustic duo shows performed in intimate settings that will celebrate over thirty years of musical friendship.  Each night will be a journey through the pair’s long history and touch on all realms of their vast musical catalog including everything from well known favorites to long-forgotten gems, and everything in between.

    Vince Herman Drew Emmitt

    They first came together on a late October evening when Vince Herman wandered into the Walrus Saloon in Boulder, Colorado, after being enticed by a sign reading “Bluegrass Music Here Tonight,. He met Drew Emmitt, whose band was playing that night, and the pair have been reshaping the musical landscape ever since.  First at house parties and in the campgrounds at festivals, then in Emmitt’s bluegrass outfit the Left Hand String Band, before forming the legendary roots band Leftover Salmon on New Year’s Eve thirty years ago.

    Since then, these two have been blazing new musical paths with Leftover Salmon, taking the music at their core: rock ‘n’ roll, folk, bluegrass, Cajun, soul, zydeco, jazz and blues, and crafting it into something new that has spawned a legion of bands in their wake.  With their unpredictable approach in a live setting, their willingness to take chances by fusing disparate musical styles together and their incorporation of non-traditional bluegrass covers into their repertoire, Leftover Salmon has pushed that progressive bluegrass sound they were originally influenced by to the next level.  Instead they are firmly settled in the long lineage of bands that defy simple categorization, always setting their own musical agenda.

    Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt Acoustic Duo Tour
    Dec. 19 – Barley’s – Knoxville, TN
    Dec. 20 – Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC
    Feb. 6 – City Winery – Atlanta, GA
    Feb. 7 – City Winery – Nashville, TN
    Feb. 8 – 185 King Street – Brevard, NC
    Feb. 9 – Richmond Music Hall – Richmond, VA
    Feb. 11 – City Winery – Washington, DC
    Feb. 12 – City Winery – Philadelphia, PA
    Feb. 13 – City Winery (2 shows) – New York, NY
    Feb. 14 – The Egg – Albany, NY
    Feb. 15 – Stage One – Fairfield, CT
    Feb. 16 – City Winery – Boston, MA
    Feb. 27 – Kenny’s Westside Pub – Peoria, IL
    Feb. 28 – Redstone Room – Davenport, IA
    Feb. 29 – City Winery (2 shows) – Chicago, IL

  • In Focus: Aqueous and Lespecial storm Putnam Place

    One of the fall’s best tours made their way to Putnam Place on Saturday, October 26 for a night of PR&J (prog-rock and jams) with Aqueous and Lespecial, two bands that highlight the fantastic Northeast music scene, who are just starting out their 13 shows together, which run through November 10 in Louisville, KY.

    For Lespecial’s opening set, the Massachusetts power trio performed an industrial set of standards “Donut Ghost House I” and “Gallows Hill.” They dipped into their Primus playbook for “Too Many Puppies” and invited up Jaq from Burning Monk, a Rage Against the Machine tribute band out of Burlington, for “Know Your Enemy,” which had the crowd jumping up and down as if Morello and De La Rocha were on stage.

    For Aqueous, their two sets were a build over the night from prog-inspired tunes “20/20” and fan favorite “Warren in the Window” in the first set towards more dance-filled numbers including “Strange Times” and “Half In, Half Out” in the second set. A cover of the Raconteurs “Steady as She Goes” and a debut of Tame Impala’s “The Less I Know the Better” gave fans a taste of familiar and new tunes inspiring Aqueous. An encore of “Uncle Phil’s Parachute” found drummer Rob Houk working the drum pad for a venue filled get down.

    The bands next perform at The Rex Theatre in Pittsburgh on October 31, then The 8×10 in Baltimore on November 1, and Richmond Music Hall in Richmond, VA on November 2. Find more tour dates here and download the show from Nugs.net.

    Lespecial photos by Sean Bemand, Aqueous photos by Jim Gilbert.

    Lespecial Setlist: Improv > Donut Ghost House I , Gallows Hill , Fruit Wolf Dance, Too Many Puppies > Hello Skinny > Too Many Puppies+, New Fish, Know Your Enemy*, The Vessel, Tonberry^

    *Rage Against the Machine, with Jaq from Burning Monk 

    + Primus

    ^bad guy, Billie Eilish tease

    Aqueous Setlist:

    Set 1: 20/20, Warren in the Window (1), Realize Your Light, Steady As She Goes (2) > Weight of the Word, Going Nowhere

    Set 2: Strange Times (3), Mosquito Valley, Pt II, The Less I Know the Better (4), Half In, Half Out, They’re Calling For Ya > Kitty Chaser (Explosions) (5)

    Encore: Uncle Phil’s Parachute (6,7)

    1- Closer to the Heart (Rush) tease
    2- The Raconteurs
    3- Gordon’s Mule tease
    4- Tame Impala cover, debut
    5- Crepes the Sloth Jam
    6- Schism (Tool) tease
    7- Falling Away From Me (KoRn) tease

  • Carnegie Hall crowd treated to acoustic Phish from Trey Anastasio

    From perhaps the world’s most storied concert hall, Trey Anastasio, a storyteller of the highest order, delivered a homecoming performance for the ages. As he mentioned during story time between songs, it was good to be back in New York, in his very own UWS neighborhood no less, “like a hobbit come home” after a national tour, including stops in Minneapolis and Milwaukee among others. Tuesday, October 29 was the penultimate performance of his solo tour, the first of two at Carnegie Hall.

    Carnegie Hall Trey Anastasio

    After a welcoming roar, the crowd was completely still for the opening “Theme From the Bottom,” actively silent and attentive while offering the occasional whistle and woot. “Ghosts of the Forest” played beautifully in the pristine gilded white room, was followed by “Sample in a Jar” with the crowd singing along, which seemed to really please Trey who smiled and nodded appreciatively with every nuance of the crowd. 

    Carnegie Hall Trey Anastasio

    Trey, so alone and vulnerable (if that’s possible in the face of his adoring phans) has found his stories becoming the best part of these shows. “I want to try this out real quick to establish the rules. Let’s see how ya do,” before he began the opening notes of “Limb By Limb” to a scream, to which he retorted, “I guess you can handle this,” before continuing another of the night’s epic singalongs. Then he recounted a story of playing the same room with the New York Philharmonic and explained the difference between a conductor and a concertmaster (the strongest and most confident member of an orchestra who everyone looks to for guidance), and shouted out Sheryl Staples, whom he played with in September 2009, before saying Phish could use a concertmaster at times, someone to snap them back to attention.

    Carnegie Hall Trey Anastasio

    “I think my mom likes this song… this one is for you,” and launched into “If I Could” which he dedicated to her, seated 6th row center, before the incredibly moving “Brian and Robert.” Long a personal favorite, especially this version, and rearranged to fit a solo performance, “Wolfman’s Brother” was next, with an acoustic telephone ringing, hysterical solo fills, and a great back and forth with the crowd. “The Inlaw Josie Wales,” a gorgeous instrumental very suited for the room, was followed by “Shade” which preceded “Blaze On,” a song long acknowledged by Trey, and received by the crowd, as a personal favorite.

    Carnegie Hall Trey Anastasio

    Another funny story followed, this one at a urinal with Tom Marshall and Steven Wright, coming before a “Strange Design,” “Rise/Come Together,” “Back on the Train,” “AC/DC Bag” combo that had many dancing in their seats. The beautiful “Snowflakes in the Sand” showed off Trey’s finger picking skills before another story and dedication, this one to his namesake and grandpa. “That’s why I’m Trey, because we all had the same name and I’m the third, … I think he’d like this,” as he played “Till We Meet Again” which sounded like a wordless Italian love ballad. The crowd enjoyed “Turtle in the Clouds,” even as its lyrics seemed incongruous with the pristine room.

    Trey’s playing, his banter, his whole essence, dripped with passion and love and humility all night. The “prince of music” played a gorgeous “Winterqueen,” another choice befitting the great stage upon which he sat. Perhaps the most poignant story of the night, Trey told of his deference for the hall and all the storied greats who came before him. He then mentioned Bach and how he used to write “For the Grace of God” on his compositions, and his feeling that his role in life is to be a vessel for this music, until he dies, and someone else will come along to do His work. Trey said he wants to play in his 80s, and Phish joked about playing a show in their 90s. “Everything’s Right.” Indeed. The first musical segue of the night saw Trey go right into “The Wedge” which had some furious acoustic solos.

    Most of Trey’s playing was stripped down, just as he and his wooden chair sat exposed and vulnerable, amidst a backdrop of kaleidoscopic colors on the cavernous stage. “Sand,” a masterclass in looping, reminded the audience just how raw and stripped down the rest of his performance had been. “Say It to Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” closed the set and prompted us all to remember where we were for a night never to be forgotten. 

    After a short break, “Driver,” “Summer of ‘89,” and “Wilson” rounded out this first of two historic nights. Trey’s solo tour concludes tonight.

    Setlist via Phish.net

    Set 1: Theme From the Bottom, Water in the Sky, Ghosts of the Forest, Sample in a Jar, Limb By Limb, Brian and Robert, If I Could, Wolfman’s Brother, The Inlaw Josie Wales, Shade, Mountains in the Mist, Blaze On, Strange Design, Rise/Come Together, Back on the Train, AC/DC Bag, Snowflakes in the Sand, Till We Meet Again, Turtle in the Clouds, Sunset Days, Winterqueen, Everything’s Right > The Wedge, Backwards Down the Number Line > Sand, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.

    ENCORE: Driver, Summer of ’89, Wilson

  • Experimental Rock Ensemble Thank You Scientist Announces National Tour with Bookending NY Gigs

    Earlier this summer, the experimental 7-piece rock ensemble Thank You Scientist released their critically acclaimed third studio effort, Terraformer, which debuted at Number 8 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Fans of the New Jersey group will have plenty of chances to catch them this fall as they embark on their first full-fledged national headlining tour, with the tour kicking off (Rochester, November 7) and ending (NYC, December 14) in the Empire State. 

    “We are unreasonably excited to announce our first full-fledged US tour for our latest release–the inconveniently long, yet suspiciously charming Terraformer,” shared TYS bandleader and guitarist Tom Monda. “An unexpected byproduct of our years of sloggin’ it out is the incredible network of friends we’ve made across the country, friends whose support make it possible for us to keep creating, even under occasionally dire circumstances, and can’t wait to visit all of you across the country this winter.”

    Thank You Scientist

    “We promise these shows will be an incredible celebration for us and the fellow weirdos we’ve met on this strange journey,” continued Monda. “To make this event even more ‘extra special-er,’ we’re bringing along some of our dearest friends in the biz:  Bent Knee and The Tea Club.” 

    Bent Knee joined Thank You Scientist for their Northeast run earlier this year. As Monda explains, “The Tea Club is a band I have loved and admired for years, so much so that I coerced them to join us on our first ever US tour many years ago! Their lineup has since expanded to include my brother on drums, making this tour figuratively and literally a family event. Don’t sleep on this or you’re grounded.” 

    Since the release of Terraformer, Thank You Scientist has spent the summer touring throughout the United Kingdom and recently recorded a live EP, Live At Backroom Studios, featuring three additional string players and complete video footage of live performances for “Son of a Serpent” and “Anchor.”

    Thank You Scientist Fall Tour Dates

    11/7 – Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall
    11/8 – Akron, OH – Musica
    11/9 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Pyramid Scheme
    11/10 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
    11/12 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
    11/14 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
    11/15 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
    11/16 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
    11/17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
    11/19 – Seattle, WA – Columbia City Theater
    11/20 – Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw Theatre
    11/21 – Portland, OR – Dante’s
    11/22 – Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
    11/23 – San Jose, CA – The Ritz, San Jose
    11/24 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater
    11/25 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
    11/27 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock Live
    11/29 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage
    11/30 – Dallas, TX – Three Links
    12/1 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
    12/3 – Atlanta, GA – Purgatory at The Masquerade
    12/4 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar
    12/6 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
    12/7 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club
    12/8 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
    12/10 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Music Hall
    12/11 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
    12/12 – Fairfield, CT – StageOne
    12/13 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
    12/14 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge

  • Premiere: Noon Fifteen “Time For Me,” from mini-rock opera “At The Festival”

    Ithaca’s progressive soul band, Noon Fifteen, today premieres “Time For Me,” off their upcoming album At the Festival. They’ll celebrate the album release at The Range in Ithaca on Friday, November 2.

    “Time for Me” introduces the suite’s protagonist, sung by bassist Harry Nichols, and sets up musical ideas which are revisited, twisted, and elaborated on throughout the piece. The song serves as the jumping off point for the album and was the first part written, having been inspired by a trip to festival during where Nichols witnessed a grieving friend experience renewal.

    A small town band with a big imagination, Noon Fifteen’s first release, Volume One, showcases the band’s vintage soul roots and hinted at its progressive tendencies. With At the Festival, the band dives head first into that prog propensity. The record is a seamless 22 minute suite, a mini rock opera that tells a tale of grief, and questions how far we should go to remember those we have lost. 

    Noon Fifteen Time For Me

    Based in Ithaca, the five-piece is influenced by 1960s California and Liverpool, 1970s Memphis and New Orleans, and the DIY ethos of the internet-powered independent music scene. Fronted by Mandy Goldman (vocals), Noon Fifteen is Samuel B. Lupowitz (keyboards & vocals), Joe Massa (guitars), Harry Nichols (bass, percussion, & vocals), Phil Shay (drums & vocals), and are joined by Chris Ploss for the album (percussion & vocals).

    At The Festival was recorded & mixed by Chris Ploss at Sunwood Recording in Trumansburg, NY, with additional recording by Samuel B. Lupowitz, and was mastered by Matt Saccuccimorano at Scaramanga Industries.

  • Dr. Martens Music & Film Series Set to Take Place

    The first ever Dr. Martens Music & Film Series is set to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the Superchief Gallery, located on 1628 Jefferson Avenue in Queens. The event—set to begin at 7:00 p.m.—will consist of a group of performers and entertainers, sharing their stories of resilience and determination. They explore the trials and tribulations that come with a career in entertainment while realizing their own artistic vision in the music industry.

    Curated by New York-based filmmaker Vincent Martell and Los Angeles based filmmaker Erik Rojas, the series will consist of L.A. and NYC concert events as well as accompanying short documentary films that will provide an intimate look at the daily lives of working musicians.

    The confirmed artists for the Dr. Martens Music & Film Series include Brooklyn’s own JunglePussy—who is being promoted as the headline performer for the New York City portion of the event. Rapper De’wayne Jackson, female rock group L.A. Witch and labelmates Sad Girl, Los Angeles punk-rock quartet The Paranoyds, hip-hop soul duo OSHUN, Afro-Latinx group Combo Chimbita, New York-based R&B group Phony Ppl, punk band Death Valley Girls, singer-songwriter Samia and r&b songstress PJ.

    For those who wish to rsvp, it can be done so by emailing hello@primeprgroup.com.

  • Hearing Aide: Mike Powell & The Black River ‘Gypsy Winnebago’

    Mike Powell and the Black River are set to release their second full-length studio album, Gypsy Winnebago. The album was recorded in the band’s loft, The Family Room, overlooking Armory Square in Syracuse over the course of the summer and features contributions from two new band members.

    Joining Mike Powell (guitar/vocals), John Hanus (guitar), Joe Bell (bass) and Dom Scicchitano (drums) on this outing are Brian Lauri (keyboards) and Jason “Jocko” Randall  (percussion).

    The ten-song album reveals a band coming into its own following its 2018 release Classic Universe. A few years under their belt and a series of weekly residencies at Downtown Syracuse’s King of Clubs has helped this band to really grow as a unit. Powell’s songwriting on this album is some of his best.

    Gypsy Winnebago

    The most apparent difference between this record and their first is the vocal harmonies. “I had a long conversation with the band and emphasized how much I felt these songs needed more voices,” says Powell. “There’s something really powerful about human voices singing one message together. The guys obviously have great ears so they grabbed ahold of the harmonies right away and it really brought these songs to life.”

    Fans who have attended the “Thursday Night Rock Show” residencies at King of Clubs have witnessed the band’s progression from a blue-eyed soul band, as exhibited on the debut Classic Universe to a well-rounded rock band with jamband tendencies. This transition can largely be attributed to the addition of Lauri and Randall.

    Many of the songs included in this collection are not new to the die-hard Black River fan. Bandleader and lead songwriter Mike Powell and his partner John Hanus have been performing songs such as “Gone Too Far” and “Moonlight, Sunshine, and Rain” in front of audiences for several years. These songs have also been incorporated into the full band sets as well yet they still reveal a freshness on this recording.

    Gypsy Winnebago
    John Hanus & Mike Powell

    The production of Gypsy Winnebago showcases the individual members of the band, particularly drummer Dom Scicchitano and relative newcomer (to The Black River at least) Brian Lauri on keyboards.  Lauri is also a member of the Syracuse-based roots-reggae band Root Shock.

    Lauri uses his synthesizer to transport the listener back to the ’80s at times, especially in “When I Was a Fire.” The Cars’ Greg Hawkes and Genesis’ Tony Banks would approve.

    “CAW” is a recent composition that can’t help but be influenced by the band’s frequent opening slots for the Canadian surf/spaghetti western/psychedelic rockers The Sadies. John Hanus’s guitar, paired with Scicchitano’s galloping drums and Powell’s haunting whistling transports the listener to the old west, one of Powell’s frequent lyrical destinations.

    In short, Gypsy Winnebago is an album that exhibits a maturing band that should garner some attention for The Black River from critics and fans alike. The album will be released on Friday through all the major streaming platforms. It can be preordered here.

    Key tracks: CAW, Renegade Rhythm, Finer Things

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