NYS Music 20​19

Category: Genres

  • Phantom Planet Returns to Brooklyn After 11 Year Hiatus

    It had been 11 years since Phantom Planet had played a live show. Many wondered if the group was ever going to end their hiatus and get back together, even after releasing their new track “Balisong” earlier this year.

    Phantom Planet Hiatus
    Phantom Planet performed an intimate show on September 18 at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, NY.

    On September 18, members Alex Greenwald, Sam Farrar, Darren Robinson, and Jeff Conrad performed to a sold-out show on the rooftop of Elsewhere in Brooklyn. It truly felt like a homecoming for the band.

    “We feel like we’re returning home,” Greenwald said in a statement. “The boys in Phantom Planet are my brothers, and we figured it was time for a full-fledged reunion.”

    The venue was packed with fans who either have been following the band since the members were teens or those who are just discovering them for the first time through their latest singles “Balisong” and “Party Animal.”

    The guys performed the new singles along with hits like “California” and “Big Brat.” But for the first time during a live show they also included “Local Black and Red” from their first record, Phantom Planet is Missing. The crowd had a chance to choose which song should be sung at certain moments during the set. One of the many reasons why Phantom Planet has always been one of the most engaging bands out there.

    Even though official tour plans have not been announced, the band has confirmed that more music will be coming out and official tour dates are in the making.

    In the meantime, fans will be happy to hear that they will be opening for Maroon 5 for a New Year’s Eve show in Las Vegas for two shows on December 30 and December 31. Read our recent interview with Phantom Planet here and catch up with the band in 2020.

  • In Focus: STS9 Rocks Buffalo

    STS9 kicked off their Apo11o Tour with a stop at Buffalo RiverWorks on Thursday, September 19. Starting off the evening was a brief dj set from Mark Farina which set the mood for sonic exploration to come. STS9 came out with with an intensity that was well received by the crowd who were eager to dance the night away. Over the course of two jam filled sets the energy never let up as high fives, hugs and dance moves filled the floor.

  • Rocktoberfest Returns to Rock Albany Warehouse District on October 5

    Ambassador Music Group (AMG) will host its second annual Rocktoberfest music festival on Saturday, October 5th as a benefit for Cohoes-based nonprofit Community Miracles In Action (CMA) and CMA’s Louder Dreams project. The free, family-friendly event will run from noon to 6:00 pm in the heart of Albany’s Warehouse District (15 Pleasant Street, 12207).

    The successful launch of Rocktoberfest in 2018 featured three main-stage acts and two acoustic performances. This year, Rocktoberfest will feature seven acts on the Louder Dreams main stage. Headliners include American Idol’s Madison VanDenburg, Americana-rock group C.K. & The Rising Tide and indie-rockers El Modernist. Rounding out the lineup are pop/indie/R&B artists Vince Palmeri, Julia Gargano, David Cuttino & The Antiks and This Strange Paradise.

    Rocktoberfest is central to AMG’s mission of featuring local musicians, partnering with and promoting local businesses, and helping local non-profits. Fulfilling the goal of helping local non-profits, Rocktoberfest 2019 has partnered with Community Miracles in Action (CMA). CMA is a drop-in teen center offering a safe place for kids to set and achieve goals, build meaningful relationships, and connect with adults who provide structure and compassion. In support of this collaboration and in support of teens, the “Louder Dreams” rock stage will feature special performances by CMA and Youth FX (another non-profit organization helping students through film) youths in between main acts.

    In an interview with Spot 518 (“Calculated Venture”) in 2018: “The community aspect of the music scene here is unlike anywhere I’ve been,” said Andrew, co-owner and artist manager of AMG. “I think there’s potential for something bigger to happen in the music scene, here in Albany,” said Rose, co-owner and marketing director of AMG. “And we’re on the brink of making it bigger than what it is right now. I think we’re all trying to make it happen.”

    Rocktoberfest

    Ambassador Music Group (AMG) is an artist management company based in Albany, New York. AMG’s artists have performed on stages across New York and New England and benefit from a devoted management and PR team. While promoting their own roster, AMG reserves resources to support local musicians, partner with local businesses, and help children through music. Learn more at www.ambassadormusicgroup.com.

  • Inaugural Harvestfest Featuring Hayley Jane, Rob Compa, and Root Shock to Take Place at Woods Valley Oct. 19

    Rooted Entertainment and Woods Valley Ski Area are joining forces to celebrate Mother Earth with the inaugural Harvestfest at the ski area located just north of Rome on Oct. 19.

    The day-long, first-year festival is headlined by Hayley Jane with special guest Rob Compa of Dopapod and Syracuse’s Root Shock.

    The festival kicks off at 2:00 p.m. and is designed as a celebration of Mother Earth and female musicians. Joining the headliners are Connecticut r&b/soul act Erica T. Bryan from West End Blend with her latest project the New Mosaic, Ithaca ska band ¡Viva Mayhem!, and Syracuse alt-blues punks Late Earth.

    A portion of the proceeds from the festival will be donated to Groovesafe, a non-profit movement organized to stop unwanted touching and sexual assault at live music events.

    Tickets for the family-friendly festival are $20 and available through the Woods Valley website here. For more information, visit the Facebook event page here.

    https://youtu.be/88PBDngTt18
    https://youtu.be/cNsqIeZm6h0

  • The Morning Sea release video for “Mad in Berlin”

    Brooklyn-based, folk-Americana group The Morning Sea recently released their new single and video, “Mad in Berlin” via Americana-UK. Recorded in band member Sonny Ratcliff’s Brooklyn apartment, “Mad in Berlin” is the second single from their upcoming album Half Keys and features footage from the band’s travels to Berlin.

    “Mad in Berlin” portrays an air of excitement and freedom, and a sense of optimism slightly obscured by a wary sense of struggle on the horizon. The song’s video, directed and edited by Ratcliff, captures these emotions beautifully by combining a blend of joyful and melancholy images.

    Songwriter / frontman, Adam Cohen, started The Morning Sea as a solo project in 2013, but the project quickly flourished into a full-fledged band with the help of a talented crew of New York City musicians, notably including Cohen’s long-time collaborator Ratcliff, a multi-instrumentalist and producer. The band has since gone on to create three previous albums, multiple singles and videos, and have played countless shows at New York City’s most prominent venues.

  • In Focus: Andrew Bird’s ‘Finest Work Yet’ at Kings Theatre

    Andrew Bird has spent much of the year supporting his newest album, My Finest Work Yet, and Tuesday night at Kings Theatre was no different. The band played the entire new album nearly straight through in the first leg of the show. At one point, Andrew even confessed to the audience how much he loved playing this particular set of songs together live.

    Andrew Bird at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Opening the night was Chicano Batman, behind their excellent EP Black Lipstick, from earlier this summer. Their blend of of psychedelic, Latin funk was a wonderful complement to Andrew Bird. The lively grooves and melodies bounced around the cavernous Kings Theatre with ease.

    Eduardo Arenas of Chicano Batman – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Kings Theatre is a unique piece of Brooklyn history. First opening in 1929 the theater hosted movies, shows and vaudeville. After sitting closed for decades and a five year renovation, the theater reopened in 2015 as a modern concert venue. Once past security, the space transports you back in time with gorgeous velvet decor and intricate carvings throughout.

    The band sounded particularly sharp inside Kings Theatre. Andrew’s whistling echoed around the room, mixing seamlessly in and out of the lush strings and vocals from the rest of the band. A tall, projected backdrop framed the band and made them seem as large as the theater itself.

    Andrew Bird, Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    After running through My Finest Work Yet, Andrew treated the crowd to a few classics, including “Pulaski at Night.”

  • Hearing Aide: Within Shadows ‘Face to Face’

    Within Shadows burst onto the Canadian metal scene a couple years ago, garnering a following with their relatable lyrics, emotionally-charged vocals and instrumental innovation. This summer, they released a few remastered songs from their 2017 album, Mind = Enemy, and launched their latest collection of work, Face to Face. 

    Within Shadows started as the solo project of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sean Farias. He’s worked with a handful of musicians over the years. On this album, Farias worked with Derek Petricka on writing, recording, engineering and producing the album. The album also features collaborations with Oshie Bichar (Beartooth, City Lights), Lucas Mann (Rings of Saturn) and Joe Farias (Intruder X). 

    Face to Face at its core is metal catharsis. The music contained herein is a conduit for channeling primal pain and political angst. From the anguish of “My Sorrow” and the agony of “Betray” to the politically charged anthems “Uprising” and “Our Revolution,” the music provides a space for purging emotions. They are personal but also strike a resounding chord within the listener. Intense and brooding, Within Shadows does not merely ride out the storm, they charge into it headfirst.  

    There’s a little something for everyone on Face to Face, as the 13 tracks adeptly flow through various styles including hardcore, metalcore, hard rock, and djent. The album has a broad appeal, speaking to those who spent their formative years hanging out at the metal stages at Warped Tour as well as those of us who grew up on Black Sabbath and Metallica. 

    Key Tracks: My Sorrow, Betray, Our Revolution

  • Runaway Gin to bring “Evil Phish” to The Knitting Factory this December

    On the heels of their first 3-song second set at a Hurricane Dorian Afterparty in Charleston, SC, Runaway Gin – a Tribute to Phish has announced the “Ophishal YEMSG Preparty” along with Facebook groups Phish Chicks and Phish Tour 2014. The event will feature two sets of “Evil Phish” starting at 8:30pm on Thursday, December 26th at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY.

    The band recently released an HD Video of “Tube” from their March 30th show in Richmond, VA.

    Runaway Gin 2019 Fall/Winter Tour:

    Saturday, September 7th: Charleston Pour House

    Friday, September 13th: the State Theatre – Greenville, NC^

    Saturday, September 14th, the Ramkat – Winston-Salem, NC

    Friday, October 11th: the Glass House – Lynchburg, VA

    Saturday, October 12th: the Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC

    Thursday, October 17h: Victory North – Savannah, GA

    Friday, October 18th: Capri Theatre – Montgomery, AL

    Saturday, October 19th: Zydeco – Birmingham, AL

    Friday, November 1st: Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC^

    Saturday, November 2nd: the Broadberry – Richmond, VA^

    Friday-Saturday, November 8th: the Woodlands Festival – Charleston, SC

    Thursday, November 14th: 1904 Music Hall – Jacksonville, FL

    Friday, November 15th: the Orpheum – Tampa, FL* 

    Saturday, November 16th: Revolution Live – Ft. Lauderdale, FL* (with Pink Talking Fish)

    Friday, November 29th: the NorVa – Norfolk, VA

    Friday, December 6th: Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC+ (Just the covers Phish afterparty)

    Thursday, December 26th: the Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY

    Saturday, February 1st: Cervantes – Denver, CO

  • Lake Street Dive Plans Four New York Stops in October

    Lake Street Dive will conclude their extensive 2019 US tour in October in support of its critically acclaimed 2018 album, Free Yourself Up. The band will perform in Brooklyn in support of the Avett Brothers on Oct. 5, then head north to Albany for a solo performance at the Palace Theatre on Oct. 6. They swing back to the Empire State in mid-October with stops in Buffalo on Oct. 18 and Geneva on Oct.19.

    Free Yourself Up was released last year on Nonesuch Records to critical and popular acclaim, spending a remarkable seven and a half months on the non-commercial radio charts and an equally rare eighteen weeks on Billboard’s Top Current Albums chart. The record debuted at No. 4 on the Top Album Chart and No. 8 in the Billboard Top 200 Chart, and the lead single “Good Kisser” was in the Top 5 at Americana radio for more than a month.

    Lake Street Dive Tour Dates

    Oct. 2 – Lebanon Opera House – Lebanon, NH (Sold Out)

    Oct. 4 – DCU Center – Worcester, MA^

    Oct. 5 – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY^

    Oct. 6 – The Palace Theatre – Albany, NY

    Oct. 8 – College Street Music Hall – New Haven, CT

    Oct.10 – Harvester Performance Center – Rocky Mount, VA

    Oct. 11-12 – The National – Richmond, VA

    Oct. 13 – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater – Wilmington, NC (Sold Out)

    Oct. 15 – Sunoco Performance Theater, Whitaker Center – Harrisburg, PA

    Oct. 17 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON (Sold Out)

    Oct. 18 – Asbury Hall – Buffalo, NY

    Oct. 19 – Smith Opera House – Geneva, NY

    ^ in support of The Avett Brothers

  • Three Heads Brewing Local Series Goes National with John Medeski’s Mad Skillet

    Since opening, Three Heads Brewing has been a bit of a temple for Rochester local music. It could be argued that no venue in town has supported the scene better. The centerpiece has been the Rochester Residency, which is rounding the turn on its second year of giving a local musician carte blanche every Thursday for a full month. So it came as a surprise when on the second Thursday of September, John Medeski’s Mad Skillet was listed to play its stage. But it was true, and truth be told, it was awesome.

    Mad Skillet was born in 2015 at a New Orleans Jazz Fest jam session, but released their debut album and toured together for the first time in 2018. Medeski is joined by Will Bernard on guitar, Kirk Joseph on sousaphone and Terrance Higgins (who was replaced on this night by the talented Joe Dyson) on drums.

    Musically, they explored the American landscape of sound. Medeski’s East Coast avant-garde meets Bernard’s West Coast jazz groove meets Joseph and Dyson’s deep-South NOLA brass. It’s more of a melting pot than a skillet to be honest. Covers of Eddie Harris’ “1974 Blues” and MMW’s “Wiggly’s Way” mixed well with their originals like “Tuna in a Can,” featuring a wild drum and guitar jam and the rocking “Little Miss Piggy” which spun out into a long reggae groove. They also traveled the spaceways with their version of Sun Ra’s “Golden Lady” and dashes of alien sounds thrown in throughout the night.

    Medeski’s B3 stood like a museum piece, its back encased in glass exposing its intricate innards. The music was the art, however. And like all great works, there was no wrong way to enjoy and find meaning in it. You could mindlessly lose yourself in the groove or pick it apart piece by piece, figuring how it all fits together. You could move your body to a sweaty mass or stand motionless, absorbing the mastery being laid down. As individual musicians tearing through a solo or as a singular group of four creating a swell of sound, Mad Skillet never disappointed.

    As it turns out, it was a Thursday night and this was technically a part of the Rochester Residency, or a bit of a preview of what’s to come next month. October’s resident is Kyle Vock, bassist for The Mighty High and Dry, The Rita Collective and probably about half of all the great tribute shows that have gone down at Three Heads and elsewhere over the past two years. Instead of showcasing himself, he will be curating a month of shows from some great nationally touring acts. Starting October 3 with the can’t-miss talent of guitarist William Tyler, followed by Levon’s talented singer-songwriter daughter Amy Helm on the 10th, and Futurebirds, a great indie rock band out of Athens, GA on the 17th. After displaying his excellent taste in music, Vock will close out his month with a couple of shows of his own, bringing The Rita Collective on the 24th and paying tribute to The Doors’ Strange Days on Halloween. Is it October yet?!

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