Banks brought her energetic live show to Brooklyn Steel on September 10 in support of her fantastic new LP, III. This was a second night added due to the first night on September 8 selling out so quickly.
Kevin Garrett opened the night with a soulful, beat-backed set of ballads. The crowd was full of Kevin Garrett fans as they willed him on by, singing and dancing along. His new album Hoax, released back in March of this year, was a nice complement to the evening, setting a warm tone but not stealing away any energy from Banks.
As the stage hands removed the opening band’s instruments, it was immediately clear that she would be dancing from one end of the stage to the other. With a keyboard set-up far stage left and a drum kit far stage right, the entire Brooklyn Steel stage was turned into Banks’ and Co. personal dance floor – and they sure used every inch.
The audience was in full-throat for every song – belting out all the lyrics and trying to mimic Banks’ dance moves on the packed GA floor. Some of the more adventurous dancers drifted to the back of the room and the balcony where there was ample space to dance.
On Wednesday September 11, the Outlaw Music Festival made its stop at the historic Forest Hills Stadium. The traveling festival treated fans to a lineup that included Lukas Nelson & The Promise of The Real, Alison Krauss, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and the return to the stage for the legendary Willie Nelson. On a day when we remember the biggest tragedy in the history of our nation, we also remember the unity it brought, and that’s the message these amazing musicians spread to a united New York City audience.
Boris needs no introduction at this point in their career. Their upcoming studio release, LφVE & EVφL, will be their 25th(!) full length LP to date. This is not even counting the numerous live albums, EPs, demos and collaborations they have put out since their formation in 1992 in Tokyo.
The band is currently on a lengthy tour of North America and they rolled through Elsewhere, Brooklyn on Tuesday night in advance of the new album being released. Uniform provided support, delivering a very heavy and frenetic opening set, dense with noise and reverb.
Boris took to the stage with little fanfare, and quietly began setting up their loops and pedals. Then, equipped with a double neck guitar/bass combo, Takeshi Ohtani began laying down the heavy drones. The set had many peaks and valleys as the band transitioned from heavy, nearly uncomfortable drones to more melodic and vocal bits. All three band members contribute to the vocals, making for a very hypnotic sound.
During the encore, Uniform joined Boris on stage for a rendition of “Akuma no Uta,” the title track from their 2013 full length. This was quite the treat for the many Uniform fans in the crowd. The show concluded with the track “Statement,” a track from an alternate version of the album Smile.
Boris continue on their long tour with upcoming stops in the Northeast and on the West Coast before heading back to Japan. The band will end the tour, and their 2019 with a show in Athens, Greece on December 21.
Following six sold-out Caribbean cruises and a sold-out inaugural Mediterranean sailing, legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa, along with the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, and Sixthman, have announced the second annual Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean II cruise. The cruise sets sail August 14 to 19, 2020 on the Norwegian Jade, leaving from Barcelona, Spain with stops in Genoa, Italy and Cannes, France.
The cruise will feature blues musicians Jonny Lang, Walter Trout, Ana Popovic, The James Hunter Six, with more to be announced. They’ll be joined by just announced artists Marc Broussard, Samantha Fish, King King, Jimmy Vivino, The Suffers, Selwyn Birchwood, The Cold Stares, Daddy Long Legs, Elles Bailey, Ben Levin, and Lakota John, in addition to New Hartford, NY native Bonamassa for this second European voyage.
Music will be featured across multiple stages, as well meet and greets with artists, and one-of-a-kind collaborative sets from blues legends. In addition to non-stop music, the specially curated schedule of events offers a variety of music-centric activities including an activity with Joe Bonamassa. Beyond the onboard experience, guests will have the chance to explore two of the world’s most beautifully renowned cities. Attendees can spend the day at the waterfront town of Cannes, famous for sparkling, sandy beaches and lush attractions, and explore the historic streets of Genoa, a remarkable gem of the Italian Riviera.
Bonamassa has also announced the release of Live at the Sydney Opera House, featuring recordings from his 2016 performance at the UNESCO Heritage Monument. The album will include previously unreleased live versions of tracks from his No. 1 album Blues of Desperation.
Band members on the live release includeLate Night with David Letterman‘s Anton Fig (percussion), Nashville recording legend Michael Rhodes (bass), Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and member of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Reese Wynans (keyboards), Paulie Cerra (sax), and Lee Thornburg (trumpet), with Mahalia Barnes, Juanita Tippins, and Gary Pinto on backing vocals.
Pressed on vinyl 180 Gram and including a commemorative booklet, the Double LP features the exclusive bonus track “Livin’ Easy,” and is due out on J&R Adventures October 25. Pre-order has begun and you can listen to the first track “This Train” below.
Live at the Sydney Opera House follows the 2018 release of British Blues Explosion Live, which marked Bonamassa’s milestone 20th #1 album, and precedes his latest studio album Redemption that took the blues world by storm later that year, bringing him his 21st #1 album on the blues charts.
In addition to Live at the Sydney Opera House, Bonamassa has a new studio album on the horizon, and plans to hit the studio this winter, following his extensive international and U.S. tour dates.
Fall 2019 Tour Dates
Friday, October 18 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
Saturday, October 19 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
Tuesday, October 22 – Bakersfield, CA – Fox Theater
Wednesday, October 23 – Rancho Mirage, CA – The Show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage
Friday, October 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
Sunday, October 27 – Las Vegas, NV – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Tuesday, October 29 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena
Wednesday, October 30 – Wichita, KS – Century II Concert Hall
Friday, November 1 – Springfield, MO – Juanita K. Hammons Hall
Saturday, November 2 – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
Sunday, November 3 – Springsfield, IL – University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, November 5 – South Bend, IN – Morris Performing Arts Center
Thursday, November 7 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater
Friday, November 8 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
Saturday, November 9 – Washington D.C. – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Monday, November 11 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Tuesday, November 12 – Binghamton, NY – Broome County Forum Theatre
Jason Aldean played Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Thursday, September 5th to a solid crowd of country lovers of all ages. His return to upstate NY was greeted enthusiastically by fans who loved his top pop-country song of the summer “Rearview Town.”
Openers Carly Pearce and Kane Brown set the scene for a fun and energized night of popular country music. Kane’s opening was stylistically a mix that was unique for country, complete with a visual set that replicates more pop and rap music than the traditional country look. Pearce sounded amazing and is a major up-and-comer in the country scene. Watch for her to be one of the new top female artists in the industry.
Photo by Claude Sawyer
Aldean entered the stage in jeans, a black Motley Crue T-shirt, and a cowboy hat with his guitar slung over his shoulder. The words “Ride All Night Tour” shone in bright letters as Aldean’s shadow crossed behind the stage when he arrived, welcoming fans with a giant “What’s Up, New York!”
Aldean gave the fans what they wanted: his most popular hits. While some country stars use concerts to promote new music, Aldean played familiar and loved hits from throughout his career, not just his recent releases.
Every year, Aldean plays “Dirt Road Anthem,” a different song from his others in that it includes some rap elements. The crowd sang along to the song that emphasized the importance of enjoying your friends and being a good person.
Aldean bucked the tradition of waiting for fans to cheer for an encore. Instead, announcing he would stay on the stage and give more music to fans. He then sang a longer than usual end of the concert with upbeat fan favorites that became sing-alongs. Aldean truly can ride all night. Here’s to wishing he performed at SPAC more than once a year.
Hot off their summer tour, Collective Soul is finishing out the year with a series of fall headlining shows. Over the next couple months, they’ll be up and down the coast, from Niagara Falls, Canada and Portland, Maine all the way down through Florida. New York dates include Syracuse on September 28 and Huntington on October 2. Tickets are on sale now.
The setlist for their shows is sure to include songs that span their quarter-century-long catalog, from early works like “Shine,” “December” and “The World I Know,” as well as songs from their recently released tenth studio album, Blood.
“For us, we want to play the hits as we always do, but I think we also want to share the new record with our fans. At 25 years later, we want to say, ‘Hey, we’re still making the best that we can do.’ Right now, I’ve got seven of the new songs in the setlist, and hopefully, on some nights, we can play the whole thing from start to finish. I mean, it’s our 25th anniversary. We’re going at it hard, everyone! We’re going hard.”
– E Roland
Collective Soul Fall 2019 Tour Dates
Sept. 21 – The Wellmont Theater – Montclair, NJ
Sept. 22 – Shippensburg University – Shippensburg, PA
Sept. 24 – Capitol Center for the Arts – Concord, NH
Sept. 25 – Aura – Portland, ME
Sept. 27 – Eastern States Exposition – West Springfield, MA
Sept. 28 – Crouse-Hinds Theater – Syracuse, NY
Sept. 29 – Cabot Theater Beverly – Beverly, MA
Oct. 1 – Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT
Oct. 2 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY
Oct. 3 – Parx Casino – Bensalem, PA
Oct. 5 – Hops and Hogs Festival – Huntersville, NC
Nov. 7 – Niagara Fallsview Casino – Niagara Falls, Canada
Nov. 8 – Niagara Fallsview Casino – Niagara Falls, Canada
Nov. 22 – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL
Nov. 23 – Coral Springs Center for the Arts – Coral Springs, FL
Nov. 25 – Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts – Melbourne, FL
Nov. 26 – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall – Sarasota, FL
“Strange where the muse can take you. I followed obediently, but I never would have guessed I’d find inspiration in old Chris Farley skits,” explained Saintseneca lead singer and songwriter Zac Little of the band’s newest track “In A Van.”
Little was revisiting ‘The Best of Chris Farley’ with some friends for the first time in over a decade, which led to the inspiration for the song. “This collection was a fixture of goofy-ness growing up, but it felt like a revelation that night. It was a strangely emotional experience. The gauzy 90’s TV sheen, the feathery haircuts, a couple cringe-y jokes that didn’t age well. But I saw his talent and craft shine through, in a way I had never quite noticed before. It was amazing, funny, and a little sad – knowing the end while witnessing the best all at once. What a weird nostalgia trip to fall into some 25 years later- all tangled up with life and memory – the same old thing, accumulating new meaning with time. I felt old. I felt like a kid.”
Saintseneca released their latest album, Pillar of Na, in the summer of 2018. Pillar of Na is Saintseneca’s most ambitious album to date, with Little aiming to incorporate genre elements he’d rarely heard in folk. “I wanted to use the idiom of folk-rock, or whatever you want to call it and to try to do something that had never been done before,” he said. “To reach way back, echoing ancient folk melodies, tie that into punk rock, and then push it into the future. I told [the album’s producer] Mike Mogis I wanted Violent Femmes meets the new Blade Runner soundtrack. I’m looking for the intersection between Kendrick Lamar and The Fairport Convention.”
Saintseneca Tour Dates 9/17 – Washington DC – Comet Ping Pong 9/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle 9/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right 9/20 – Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artspace 9/21 – Allston, MA – Great Scott 9/28 – Columbus, OH – Land Grant Brewing 10/11 – Lexington, KY – The Burl 10/13 – Lawrence, KS – White School House 10/15 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall 10/17 – Boise, ID – Neurolux 10/18 – Pendleton, OR – Great Pacific 10/19 – Yakima, WA – Single Hill Brewing 10/21 – Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern 10/22 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall 10/24 – Sacramento, CA – Momo Sacramento 10/25 – San Francisco, CA – Café Du Nord 10/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Bar 10/28 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe reconnects for a ‘Thick As Thieves’ fall tour. This 22 show tour in October and November comes just after Denson’s summer stretch as a saxophonist with The Rolling Stones. After shows in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, KDTU will be joined for the remainder of the tour by Thievery Corporation.
The tour will feature KDTU’s first album in the past five years, Gnomes and Badgers, which was released earlier this year by Seven Spheres Records. Blending rock, soul and classic funk, the album takes a dive into the many controversial topics of today. This includes the album’s first single ‘Change My Way’ which gives a moving statement about the issues going on at the US border.
KDTU will kick off their tour on Thursday, Oct. 3. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here on KDTU’s website. See the full list of dates below.
Oct.3 – The Pour House – Charleston, SC Oct.4 – Big House Museum – Macon, GA Oct.5 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC Oct.6 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA Oct.8 – The Hamilton Live – Washington, DC Oct.9 – The Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC Oct.10 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA Oct.11 – Rex Theater – Pittsburg, PA Oct.12 – The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA * Oct.13 – House of Blues – Boston, MA* Oct.15 – Aura – Portland, ME Oct.16 – Le Capitole – Quebec City, Canada* Oct.17 – Mtelus – Montreal, Canada * Oct.18 – Putnam Place – Saratoga, NY Oct.24 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI * Oct.25 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN * Oct.27 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN * Oct.28 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL* Nov.6 – The Fillmore – Miami, FL * Nov.7 – The Ritz – Tampa, FL* Nov.8 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA * Nov.9 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL *
With three of the most prolific rock guitarists in the world, GE Smith (Hall & Oates, Bob Dylan & SNL band), Jim Weider (The Band & Levon Helm Band), and Duke Levine (Peter Wolf, Rosanne Cash), this is sure to be a historic night of roots rock n’ roll. Playing tunes from Roy Buchanan, Little Richard, Neil Young, Jimmy Reed, Steve Winwood, Sam Cooke and more, the Masters of the Telecaster promises to be a full night of quality music. Opening for the show will be Nate Gross Band followed by Sly Fox.
Jim Weider, a master of classic telecaster guitar, is renowned for his rock and a blues-based signature sound. He is among a select group of musicians with an endorsement from Fender, and for the past three decades, he’s earned enormous respect from fellow musicians and music fans throughout the world.
Born and raised in the famed arts colony of Woodstock, NY, Jim received great acclaim during his long tenure (1985-2000) as lead guitarist (replacing Robbie Robertson) for Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees, The Band. During 15 years of international touring with original members Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Rick Danko, Jim was featured on numerous albums, films, videos, and television appearances. Highlights included a 1990 performance with The Band and Ronnie Hawkins at The Berlin Wall concert, produced by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, and several cable TV specials including “The Bob Dylan Tribute” at Madison Square Garden, “The Road,” and “This Country’s Rocking.” Jim performed and recorded at the “Unofficial Blue Jean Bash” for President Clinton’s 1993 Inaugural Ball, with special guests Bob Dylan, Steven Stills and Dr. John, was on a 1994 pay-per-view concert telecast from the Woodstock ’94 Festival, and a 1995 appearance on the A&E Biography documentary “The Authorized Video Biography The Band” for cable TV and video, released by ABC Video.
Jim furthered his reputation as a versatile and talented guitarist in performances and recordings with Scotty Moore, Keith Richards, Los Lobos, Graham Parker, Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Hot Tuna, Bob Weir/Rat Dog, Johnny Paycheck, James Talley, Kim Wilson, Paul Butterfield and Robbie Dupree, among many others.
G.E. Smith was Music Director and led the Saturday Night Live (SNL) band for 10 years. During this time he also toured with Bob Dylan for four years. He also helped Mike Myers write a song for Aerosmith for when they performed on SNL. G.E. Smith was sought out by major recording artists like Jagger, who, shortly after Live Aid, called Smith to work with him on his first solo album, She’s the Boss. During this period Smith also did a few one-off recordings and concerts with David Bowie and Peter Wolfe. He just finished a three year run with Roger Water’s WALL LIVE worldwide tour.
Guitarist Robert “Duke” Levine was born and raised in Worcester, MA. He moved to Boston to study music and graduated from the New England Conservatory. In addition to releasing five records of instrumental guitar music, Duke Levine divides his time between the studio and the road. He has recorded and/or performed live with Peter Wolf, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rosanne Cash, Lee Ann Womack, The J. Geils Band, Robbie Fulks, Slaid Cleaves, Aimee Mann, Jonathan Brooke, The Del Fuegos, Otis Rush, and many others.
TV appearances include The Late Show w/ David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Late Show w/Conan O’Brien, Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon, Austin City Limits, and Soundstage. You can hear his playing on film scores such as “Lone Star,” “The Opposite Of Sex,” “Passion Fish,” “Honeydripper” and “Music Of The Heart.” Duke’s work has been recognized by the Boston Music Awards (“Unsung Hero” of 2006, “Outstanding Instrumentalist” of 1995). He is featured in the book: The Fender Telecaster: The Life And Times Of The Electric Guitar That Changed The World, by Dave Hunter.
Wallis Bird‘s upcoming album, Woman, is both a rebellious act of self-advocacy and a call to action. Wallis Bird is an accomplished musician from Ireland with a unique sound. When she was young, Wallis was involved in an accident where she lost all of the fingers on her left hand. Fortunately, all but one were able to be reattached. This has impacted the way she plays her guitar. She performs with it flipped, lending to her distinct musical quality.
Womancomes twelve years after her first album, and it is a reflection on the things Wallis has learned, both about herself and humanity. It serves as a way to impart what she has discovered and to rouse her audience into wanting change. To change the world around them; to be a kinder place.
In “Life Is Long,” Wallis reminds us that while a lifetime may seem like a long period, time itself is very brief. Each moment needs to be savored, which is something that is easy to forget in a world of instant gratification and constant distractions.
In “Salve,” a previously released track from the album, Wallis sings, “I’m practicing what I’m preaching, no else is going to save me,” a lyric which shows she has learned responsibility for her own self-growth. It’s easy to be sold on a version of yourself when you’re constantly fed images via social media. The desire to model yourself after someone else, who appears to be living an ideal lifestyle is tempting, but Wallis seems to ask you to step back from all of that, to evaluate yourself based on your own standards and decide what it is that you truly value. Create your own rubric to measure yourself by and define your own happiness.
Wallis invites introspection in her track “Brutal Honesty,” where she is, as the title suggest, with herself and shows awareness about how her own words impact others. She invites the listener to step inside her thoughts, where an act of intimacy becomes a shared experience with many. In “Repeal” she advocates for the right to decide what is best. In the current political climate, as a woman, others in power feel that it is up to them to make decisions for you. Wallis Bird speaks out against this, fighting to take ownership of her own choices in life.
Wallis Bird presents you with singable tunes that are joyous in sound yet carry deep messages that comes from introspection and reflecting on the changing world at large. It is a blend of soul roots and her love of the various genres that have influenced her. It stands as a testament to who she is and who she has built herself to be.
“Woman” will be released on September 27th. To catch her on tour, you can find her upcoming shows here.
Key Tracks: Salve, Brutal Honesty, As the River Flows.
