Meat Puppets’ original lineup, Curt and Cris Kirkwood and returning drummer Derrick Bostrom, will be releasing a new album, Dusty Notes on March 8. This will be their first album together since 1995. The band has also announced that they will be touring the U.S. in support of the new record.
Formed in Arizona in the ’70s as youngsters, Curt Kirkwood (guitar, vocals), Cris Kirkwood (bass), and Derrick Bostrom (drums) found a sound that caused a stir in their local music scene and eventually became one of the most important bands of the alt-grunge era of the ’80s and ’90s.
The band was inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2017, this is where the the original lineup played together for the first time in over two decades. The onstage chemistry between the three was overwhelming, as Bostrom stated, “It was so intense that even I couldn’t deny it! I remember why we did this. It was magical.” From this, Dusty Notes was born. Two tracks from the new album are available now on YouTube. You can see them below Tickets will be on sale Friday, January 18 on the band’s website.
Meat Puppets — 2019 Tour Dates:
April 4 – Sweetwater Music Hall – Mill Valley, CA
April 5 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
April 6 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA
April 7 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA May 8 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY May 9 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
May 10 – Underground Arts Philadelphia, PA
May 11 – Asbury Lanes – Asbury Park, NJ May 13 – Colony – Woodstock, NY
May 14 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT
May 15 – Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
May 16 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
May 17 – 3S Artspace – Portsmouth, NH
May 18 – White Eagle Music Hall – Jersey City, NJ
Radiohead fans were treated to an Internet-streamed surprise of a b-side track to 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool. “Ill Wind” begins as a brooding, bass-driven track which opens to a full suite of synth inspired soundscapes towards the latter half. Released with the song “Spectre,” the band’s rejected intro theme to the 2015 James Bond film, the two tracks were an extra CD bonus with the purchase of the vinyl record.
Take a listen.
The release of “Ill Wind” comes during a flurry of news regarding solo work from Thom Yorke. He’s announced a limited edition release of more than 20 songs, cut from the soundtrack to the 2018 remake of Suspiria. Separately, a solo record, apparently sharing some political themes has been confirmed for 2019.
According to an interview with El Mundo, with translation from Pitchfork, Thom states “I didn’t have any desire to make very political music, but everything I do tends to go that way anyway.” The album will be produced by longtime Radiohead collaborator, Nigel Godrich.
Thom Yorke and Radiohead fans have much to look forward to in 2019, including Radiohead’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Coincidentally, Thom won’t be able to make it to the ceremony, he’s got some other things to attend to.
The 40th Anniversary Blues Music Award nominations have been announced by The Blues Foundation. Nominees in twenty-five different categories will converge in Memphis on May 9th 2019, at the Cook Convention Center for the award ceremonies and artist performances.
Several Blues Music Award nominees appeared in Central New York venues within the past year, including The Westcott Theater, Funk ‘n Waffles, Wakely’s, the New York State Blues Festival, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and the Chenango Blues Festival. The nominated artists that appeared at these venues are
Larkin Poe – Band of the Year,
Samantha Fish – Contemporary Blues Female Artist, and Contemporary Blues Album – Belle of the West,
Danielle Nicole – Contemporary Blues Female Artist, and Instrumentalist – Bass,
Rumors have now turned into answers with the official announcement for the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock. Questions have been answered as to when the show will take place and where, as we now patiently wait for next month’s official lineup announcement when tickets for the event will also go on sale.
Woodstock 50 will take place on August 16-19, at the Watkins Glen International Speedway in Watkins Glen. The event will run the same weekend as the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival’s own Woodstock anniversary special. Original Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang stated that he is still working with organizers on capacity for the event which he expects in the six figure range.
Lang also stated that the three-day event will see “newer bands,” to honor the legacy of the festival by staging “celebrations of artists” who appeared at the original Woodstock event. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Lang stated: “Having contemporary artists interpret that music would be a really interesting and exciting idea. We’re also looking for unique collaborations, maybe some reunions and a lot of new and up-and-coming talent.”
For the past several weeks, music enthusiast have been checking the internet everyday waiting for an official announcement ever since original Woodstock co-founder, Michael Lang, told the Poughkeepsie Journal that plans for the anniversary show was in the works but not a done deal.
Lang’s event will also feature programs, speakers and partnerships like Headcount. He said: “We want this to be more than just coming to a concert, and hopefully a lot of the bands will become part of this effort to get people to stand up and make themselves heard, to get and out vote. And if they don’t have a candidate that represents their feelings, to find one — or to run themselves.”
With Live Nation backing the Bethel Woods event the same weekend, and with Lang’s statement about “newer bands,” both lineups should look completely different. There is a 90-mile radius clause for artists when performing shows within a certain time frame. It’s highly unlikely that Live Nation will allow artists appearing at the Bethel event to appear at the Watkins Glen event. Having the same artists at the same shows on the same weekend could also hurt ticket sales for both events.
SWMRS, California based punk-rock band has announced a nationwide headlining tour with support from The Regrettes and Beach Goons, including two stops in New York State.
SWMRS draw on influences ranging from The Ramones to The Beach Boys and have created their own brand of punk/surf-rock. The North American leg of the The “Berkley’s On Fire Tour” commences March 28 in San Diego, and will comprise of stops in Dallas, Las Vegas, Washington, Boston, Chicago, and many more. The two New York stops include April 11 at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn and April 13 at The Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Previous to the North American tour, SWMRS will be touring in Europe and the United Kingdom.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, Jan. 11. SWMRS’ new album, Berkley’s On Fire is available for pre-order now. Fans that purchase a pre-order will get access to a ticketing pre-sale starting Tuesday, Jan. 8. Full album and tour info can be found here.
This year’s festival features a wide array of styles, ranging from the traditional Bonnaroo fare to pop and hip hop artists.
The 18th annual event kicks off June 13 with the Grand Ole Opry, which features Saba, Space Jesus, All Them Witches, The Nude Party, and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. The festival ends June 16 with Carlile, Cardi B, the Lumineers and Phish performing two sets.
Tickets will be released at noon Central Time on Thursday, Jan. 10 through the Bonnaroo website. In addition to four-day general admission, VIP and Platinum level tickets, Bonnaroo now offers a layaway plan for those wishing to purchase general admission tickets, with plans starting at $47.
The Governors Ball Music Festival will hold its 9th event over May 31-June 2, taking place at Randall’s Island Park in New York City. The impressive line up includes Tyler, the Creator, Florence + the Machine, Kacey Musgraves, Charlie XCX, Lil Wayne, The Strokes, Lily Allen, The 1975 and many more.
Starting today you can visit the Governors Ball Music Festival webpage to get special “Announce Day” priced tickets for the event that ends at 11:59 p.m. as well as the full line up for the event. Regular pricing begins at midnight on Jan. 8.
The Governors Ball is a New York grown and cultivated festival that has proven to be one of the country’s most successful festivals in its previous eight years of existence. The festival prides itself on community engagement, working with and donating to numerous non-profits and community groups each year.
Vocalist Maynard James Keenan confirmed that Tool has tracked all the instruments and vocals, and their next album they promised for 2019 is in the mixing process. This is the long-awaited follow-up to 2006’s 10,000 Days.
Tool has announced tour dates. They are on the lineup for Welcome to Rockville, Epicenter Festival, and Chicago Open Air in May, then they head off to tour in Europe in June. Visit Tool for more info.
WNY’s Carpool and Syracuse’s Lily Grave are heading out on a weekender this month – hitting Buffalo, Rochester, Asbury, NJ and Brooklyn. They start off with an intimate show in Buffalo on January 16 before hitting their familiar stomping grounds at Bug Jar in Rochester on January 17. From there, they head to Asbury Park Brewery for a show on January 18 before wrapping it up at Bushwick Public House in Brooklyn on January 20.
Carpool recently released I Think Everyone’s A Cop, a follow-up to 2017’s I Still Blame Everything Else. In an interview with NYS Music, lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Colasanto said the latest collection of songs “is about complacency, substance abuse and relationships – like you’re stuck in a stagnant state of molasses.”
Lily Grave also had a new release in 2018, entitled Absurd Faces.
Jan. 16 – house show w/ Ghostpool & Previous Love – Buffalo, NY Jan. 17 – Bug Jar – w/ California Cousins – Rochester, NY Jan. 18 – Asbury Park Brewery w/ Toy Cars, ManDancing, and Prim – Asbury, NJ Jan. 20 – Bushwick Public House w/ Cold Wrecks, & Common Sage – Brooklyn, NY
The ball may be dropping in New York City, but all over New York State, there will be incredible live performances that are sure to be show-stopping starts to the New Year. To make sure you do not miss out on all that New Year’s Eve (NYE) has to offer this trip around the sun, here is our NYS run-down for the statewide welcome to 2019.
Western New York
Buffalo – Aqueous will be coming home for the holidays and kicking off 2019 right at the Town Ballroom with special guests who are sure to bring the funk, lespecial. Click the link to figure out how to secure your spot at this NYE celebration, and about another chance to see the group in a more intimate setting. https://www.facebook.com/events/715484275466687/
Rochester – In order to ensure 2019 is a one-of-a-kind year, come ring in the New Year with the one and only Americana and jam band, moe. Tickets on sale now: https://www.facebook.com/events/475287809638652/
Finger Lakes
Ithaca – Presented by DSP Shows, it’s the two-day celebration at The Haunt, featuring Binghamton-native folk rock group, Driftwood. To grab your tickets for one or both nights, follow the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/178512866383693/
Southern Tier
Binghamton – It’s the perfect trifecta for a Happy New Year: great food, champagne, and jams from progressive rock group, Railbred. Binghamton is in for a treat so make sure to click the link to secure your ticket to Callahan’s Sportsman Club in advance. https://www.facebook.com/events/2204707582881695/
Endicott – Topper Saloon will be hosting their New Years Eve Party featuring Last Call, the classic rock band from Broome County, NY. To ensure that you will be dancing and singing your way through the night, click the link for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/195783067916826/
Nichols – There’s nothing quite like the party band, Wreckless Marci, to rock you into the New Year. Come spend the last moments of 2018 and the first of 2019 with them at Tioga Downs Casino Resort. https://www.facebook.com/events/332286467572322/
Central New York
Syracuse – A longstanding favorite of Upstate New York, Pearly Baker’s Best, will be performing at the Lost Horizon on the 31st, and will be joined by Mike Powell & The Black River. For a celebration full of soulful songwriting and tributes to the Grateful Dead, click the link for more info. https://www.thelosthorizon.com/event/1793856-pearly-bakers-best-mike-syracuse/
Hamilton – Come join the John Scarpulla Band at the Colgate Inn in Hamilton, NY for a night full of blues, soul, country and Americana. To secure your dinner reservation and spot at this New Years Eve Party, make sure to call the Colgate Inn. Details in the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/566392323822676/
Albany – Head out to Jupiter Hall in Albany for a New Year’s Eve Club Night, complete with champagne toasts, balloon drop, and of course, a massive dance floor. The night will feature sets from DJ Tony Martinez and DJ Løgantheø. Click the link for more info: http://jupiterhallalbany.com/events/new-years-eve-club-night/
Saratoga – Putnam Place will be hosting a celebration to welcome 2019 by partying like it’s 1985. Come join That 80’s Band as they welcome the New Year with some old favorites. https://www.facebook.com/events/247197935957116/
Woodstock – Colony in Woodstock will be hosting their New Years Eve Dance Party, which will be featuring Chris Wells and The Silver Spaceship. Come get down with some of the finest musicians in New York to start your year right. https://www.facebook.com/events/198138204445223/
Huntington – Yet another spectacular 80’s themed party to welcome 2019. The Paramount will be hosting Jessie’s Girl – The World’s Best 80’s Band for a tribute show like none other. Grab your tickets and get more info at the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/147680822848768/
