NYS Music 20​19

Category: Upcoming Shows

  • Natalie Merchant to be Honored at 39th Annual John Lennon Tribute

    In celebration of what would have been John’s Lennon’s 79th birthday, grassroots non-profit Theatre Within has announced artists for the 39th Annual John Lennon Tribute on Friday, December 6, including Natalie Merchant. The event will be held at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space on Broadway and 95th street.

    In addition to artist-activist Natalie Merchant, who will be honored as the sixth recipient of the “John Lennon Real Love Award,” the Tribute will feature performances by Joan Osborne, Rachael Yamagata, Sam Amidon, Willie Nile and Raye Zaragoza, backed by a band led by drummer Rich Pagano, one of the founding members of the Fab Faux.

    Merchant, who will be appearing in the long-running charity concert for first time, said in a statement:

     “John and Yoko’s activism had a profound impact upon me as a child. Through their ingenious war protests they challenged the entire world to reflect upon itself. In my estimation, ‘Imagine’ remains the most powerful three minutes and eight seconds of music ever recorded. It contains a vision of our highest aspirations in the most concise language and simple melody. John and Yoko realized that popular art and celebrity could be used to push society closer toward equity and compassion. I’ve tried to follow their example throughout my life, as an artist and citizen. It’s such an honor to be recognized for my work with the John Lennon Real Love award this year.”

     “With her beautiful songs, social activism, and support of charitable causes, Natalie Merchant has truly brightened our world and our hearts,” said Yoko Ono. “Natalie’s outspokenness on the environment, domestic violence, and special-needs children shines light on these vitally important issues. I am so happy that Theatre Within is honoring her with this year’s John Lennon Real Love Award.” 

    Theatre Within Artistic Director and longtime Tribute producer/host, Joe Raiola says of Merchant, “John Lennon combined music and social activism in a unique and remarkably positive way. Natalie Merchant is a great artist blazing a similar path with heart, caring and compassion, and she is very deserving of this honor.”

    Proceeds from the Tribute will support Theatre Within’s ongoing free workshops – in songwriting, art, meditation and more – at Gilda’s Club NYC for those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Workshops include the John Lennon Real Love Project, a visionary songwriting program for children, which will be made available to public schools and libraries in the NY tri-state area starting in the spring of 2020.

    Tickets for Theatre Within’s 39th Annual John Lennon Tribute are currently sold out. However, additional seats may be released for sale. For seat availability, visit LennonTribute.org. A limited number of VIP packages with up-close center orchestra seats are available at LennonTribute.org/join-friends.

    Theatre Within’s Annual John Lennon Tribute is produced in association with Music Without Borders. It is the only ongoing John Lennon Tribute concert in the world sanctioned by Yoko Ono.

  • Tough Old Bird to Finish out the Year with Two WNY Shows

    Tough Old Bird has spent the fall on tour promoting their latest album, The Old Great Lakes. They finish out 2019 with a couple shows close to home. You’ll find them at Nietzche’s in Buffalo on Friday, Dec. 6 and at Mission Hall in Rochester on Saturday, Dec. 14.

    The brotherly duo of Matthew and Nathan Corrigan has been performing under the name Tough Old Bird for the better part of the decade. Their latest release is a concept album that weaves together an array of musical influences and lyrical narratives around the central theme of area waterways.

    In an interview earlier this year, Nathan told NYS Music, “I think we’ve had a tendency in the past to think of ourselves as a folk band, and with this album I think it was more important to be open to anything, and not worry about what genre it was or whether it sounded like some abstract idea of how we were supposed to sound.”

  • CEG Plans Huge Slate of Phish After Parties NYE Run

    December is here, and that means Phish’s annual four night run at Madison Square Garden is right around the corner. And with those four nights of Phish come… Phish after-parties! CEG Presents has put together an incredible slate of post-shows that you’ll be looking to check out after emptying out on 7th and 8th Avenues following Phish. See below for details on all the great shows you’ll find starting late, December 28-30, plus a special NYE show from The New Mastersounds!

    Click on the band name to browse tickets

    – Saturday, December 28 – Sony Hall

    John Medeski and Billy Martin (Medeski Martin and Wood) will come together with Scott Metzger (JRAD) and Nels Cline (Wilco) for the first time, one night only, for an evening of improvisational music after Phish performs at Madison Square Garden on December 28.

    CEG
    – Saturday December 28 – Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2

    An eclectic jam/funk band, infusing deep psychedelic grooves with improvisational techniques. The ambitiously crafted keyboard mastery, expressive saxophone and immaculate guitar shredding meld into a dynamic fusion. Lean more about The New Motif.

    CEG

    Saturday December 28 – Hill Country     
    CEG
    Saturday December 28 & Sunday December 29 – Gramercy Theatre

    Pink Talking Fish provides their own original musical concept by combining the songbooks of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish to create a unique experience for live music fans.  The band has added to this concept over the years by adding a 4th Act such as David Bowie, Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson and more.  They have also performed complete albums while intertwining songs from the other 2 Acts into the mix. On December 29 at Gramercy Theatre, PTF will unleash one of the most exciting concepts to date: Pink Talking Fish Are Beastie Boys!  This will be a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Phish AND Beastie Boys. 

    Joining the band will be DJ Logic, who will be assuming the duties of Mix Master Mike and also adding his flavor to songs from the other 3 Acts.  PTF will also be performing ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ for a NYC Phish After-Party on December 28th, also at Gramercy Theatre.  This will be a full rendition of the Pink Floyd album with Phish and Talking Heads songs intertwined through the album cuts.

    – Sunday December 29 – (le) poisson rouge

    Anybody who’s seen Marco Benevento perform will attest, with eyes closed, smile wide across his face and fingers free-flowing across the keys, he’s a satellite to the muse. With a devout and growing fan-base, Benevento is an artist whose story is only beginning to unfold..

    – Sunday December 29 – Hill Country

    The music of The Grateful Dead transcends time, age and space. Their high energy, soul-touching jams, and family-like environment were central to the counter-culture experience.  Over the past 19 years Dead Sessions has grown to become one of the favorite Grateful Dead experiences in the Northeast. Playing since 1998, the collective is known for their authentic but unique renditions of Grateful Dead classics, thick with spiritual connectivity and heartfelt jams that make the most jaded Deadhead rejoice. Dead Sessions is composed of a rotating cast of musicians throughout the country, but the roots of origin are easily traced to the Green Mountain State. With an unmasked joy that pours off the stage and blurs any boundaries with their audience, the Sessions are beloved by all from the casual fan to the dedicated Terrapin warrior.


    Monday December 30 – (le) poisson rouge

    On December 30, Greenwich Village venue (le) poisson rouge will host Electric In The Village: Ryley Walker, Chris Forsyth, and Garcia Peoples. Guitarist/songwriter Chris Forsyth got his start in Brooklyn’s experimental circles in the early 2000’s, and as the bandleader of Chris Forsyth & the Solar Motel Band, channeled both the psychedelic jamming of the Grateful Dead and the precision of art-punk guitar acts like Television. Illinois-based fingerstyle guitarist and singer-songwriter Ryley Walker adds new flavor to the series; his music has been described as fingerstyle ballads, psychedelic waltzes, and raga-inspired blues. Garcia Peoples is the Brooklyn Sextet blasting through residencies and new songs and sessions and collaborations, leaving a trail of live tapes in their wake, and scaling ever upwards.

    – Tuesday December 31, 2018 – Gramercy Theatre

    The New Mastersounds have been delighting audiences with their infectious brand of funky soul-jazz since they formed in Leeds in 1999. For the first five years of the band’s career they were regulars at the Jazz Café in London, before they began to turn heads on the funk scene in the US, where guitarist/producer/bandleader Eddie Roberts now lives. For over a decade they have been a staple act of the late-night scene during New Orleans’ annual Jazz Fest.

    Though they have collaborated over the years with such musical luminaries as Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Corinne Bailey Rae, Art Neville, Bernard Purdie and Lou Donaldson, they are at their best on stage as a tightly-packed quartet – bass, drums, guitar and keyboards – firing scorching grooves off each other and feeding on the energy of the dancers in the front row.

  • Debut performance of Jam Just Happened planned for December 6 at Nublu

    A first of its kind show, Jam Just Happened will bring together the intimacy of a podcast and the uniqueness of a live music experience. The first live performance is set for Friday, December 6, at Nublu NYC. The show will feature guitarist Scott Metzger, drummer Adam Chase, keyboard player Aron Magner, and bass player Jay White. 

    The musicians will bring each of their individual styles together to create something entirely unique for a small audience. A podcast companion will be released after the show. This event is presented by Osiris Media and nugs.net, and will be emceed by Tom Marshall.

  • They Might Be Giants Add New ‘Flood’ Shows

    Brooklyn’s “Ambassadors of Love,” They Might Be Giants,  due to popular demand, have added new shows to their 2020 tour. New stops will include  Boston, New Haven, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and many more. They also have added additional shows in Chicago, Detroit and New York City at the Bowery Ballroom, all of which are now sold out. New Yorkers can still catch TMBG at the State Theater in Ithaca (May 5) and Buffalo at the Town Ballroom (May 6). 

    The 2020 tour is in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their third album, Flood, which catapulted them into international stardom upon its release. Dubbed as an “evening with” show, fans can expect for TMBG to play Flood in its entirety along with favorites and some brand new tracks thrown into the lineup. Find a full list of the shows below and visit the band’s website for ticketing.

    They Might Be Giants 2020 Tour Dates

    Jan.10 – Daryl’s House Club – Pawling, NY

    Jan.11 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Feb.6 – College Street Music Hall – New Haven, CT

    Feb.7 – Columbus Theatre – Providence, RI

    Feb.8 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Mar.5 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI

    Mar.6 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL

    Mar.7 – Geek Bowl XIV – Chicago, IL

    Mar.8-9  – The Majestic – Detroit,MI

    Mar.13 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA

    Mar.14 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Apr.8-9  – Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC

    Apr.10 – 930 Club – Washington, DC

    Apr.11 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Apr.30 – May 1 – Royale – Boston, MA

    May 2 – Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT

    May 3 – Academy of Music Theatre – Northampton, MA

    May 5 – State Theater – Ithaca, NY

    May 6 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY

    May 7-8 – Mr. Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA

    May 9 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    May 12-13 – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – Cleveland, OH

    May 14 – Vic Theatre- Chicago, IL

    May 15 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN

    May 16 – Fitzgerald Theater – St.Paul, MN

    May 17 – The Pageant – St.Louis, MO

  • Goose announces 2020 dates with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong; headline Syracuse April 22

    Fast-rising indie-rock band Goose kick off 2020 with two sold out NYC shows, and then fly west to join Pigeons Playing Ping Pong for 13 shows on their first ever West Coast tour. The Norwalk, CT based group has taken flight this year, with notable performances at Peach Fest and sold out shows throughout their Fall Tour.

    Not only will Goose open for Pigeons to start 2020, they’ll be on the Rock Legends Cruise, setting sail in late February, then head to Pelham, TN to perform at The Caverns for a PBS special.

    Tickets are on sale now through Goose’s website.

    Goose 2020 Tour Dates

    January 24 — New York, NY
    January 25 — Brooklyn, NY
    February 5 — Tempe, AZ*
    February 6 — Solana Beach, CA*
    February 7 — West Hollywood, CA*
    February 8 — West Hollywood, CA*
    February 12 — San Luis Obisbo, CA*
    February 13 — Santa Cruz, CA*
    February 14 — San Francisco, CA*
    February 15 — San Francisco, CA*
    February 16 — Crystal Bay, NV*
    February 19 — Eugene, OR*
    February 20 — Bend, OR*
    February 21 — Portland, OR*
    February 22 — Seattle, WA*
    February 28-March 1 — Rock Legends Cruise
    March 27 — Pelham, TN
    April 16 — Asheville, NC
    April 17 — Raleigh, NC
    April 19 — Baltimore, MD
    April 22 — Syracuse, NY
    April 23 — Philadelphia, PA
    April 25 — Boston, MA
    April 26 — Boston, MA

    * with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

  • More than a dozen Jam for Tots shows planned across New York State this holiday season

    NYS Music is proud to announce 15 Jam for Tots shows around the Empire State this holiday season. Kicking off on November 27, each show will have a Toys for Tots box set up for patrons to donate gifts to kids in need.

    With a wide variety of artists, including Consider the Source, Runaway Gin, Annie in the Water, Tim Herron Corporation, Strange Machines, and Swedish metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, this annual series will connect live music fans with those most in need in their local communities.

    jam for tots

    Support kids in need this holiday season by bringing an unwrapped toy to any of the following shows. Jam for Tots is brought to you by NYS Music.

    Regional shows include:

    Mid-Hudson Valley

    Nov 27 Open Jam – Main Street Public House, Philmont

    Dec 5 Open Jam – The Stewart House, Athens

    Dec 7 Yngwie Malmsteen – The Chance, Poughkeepsie

    Dec 14 IS – Hilltop Bar and Tavern, Tannersville

    Westchester

    Dec 4 The Spadtastics – Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester

    North Country

    Dec 6 Hunter – The Monopole, Plattsburgh

    Western New York

    Dec 14 Strange Machines w/s/g Haewa- Flour City Station, Rochester

    Dec 20 PA Line “Chrismukkah Show” w/ Special Guests – Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo

    Capital Region

    Dec 14 Annie In The Water, The Deadbeats – Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

    Dec 14 Consider the Source w/s/g Swimmer – The Hollow, Albany

    Central New York

    Dec 8 The Old Main – Woods Valley, Rome

    Dec 19 The Action! – Copper City Brewing Company, Rome

    Dec 28 Tim Herron Corporation – Funk n Waffles, Syracuse

    New York City

    Dec 26 Runaway Gin – Knitting Factory, Brooklyn

    Massachusetts

    Nov 30 Fennario – Electric Haze, Worcester, MA

  • The Residents plan January live video concert of iconic “God in 3 Persons” album at Museum of Modern Art

    Legendary art rockers The Residents, in collaboration with celebrated video artist John Sanborn, will perform their epic 1988 album, God In 3 Persons, at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City on January 24 and 25, 2020. The performances will include eleven performers, featuring a live seven-piece music ensemble. Audiences will witness the terrifying gospel of Mr. X and The Holy Twins, brought to life by legendary SF-based art rockers.

    The story of God In 3 Persons will be told using lurid multi-layered video projections created by Sanborn while The Residents provide live accompaniment with vocalist Laurie Amat.

    God In 3 Persons will be directed for performance by Travis Chamberlain with musical direction by Joshua Raoul Brody and puppetry and background design by Leigh Barbier. Steve Saporito produces.

    In this propulsive and brooding rock oratorio, The Residents’ anonymous lead singer, performing as Mr. X, preaches of his encounters with a pair of ambiguously gendered conjoined twins (portrayed on video by noted genderqueer porn star Jiz Lee). Their physical union has magical healing powers…or so he claims! A confession of faith-mongering complicated by a crisis of desire, God in 3 Persons functions as a darkly twisted cautionary tale about the risk of losing yourself in the process of refusing to accept others in their entirety.

    God in 3 Persons is sung in rhythmic spoken word fashion, similar to the talking blues, and driven by a bombastic and dynamic score derived entirely from the first few bars of the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy,” along with the melodic hook from the Swinging Medallions 1966 hit “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love.” Despite being one of their most critically successful albums and a fan favorite, God in 3 Persons has never toured as a concert or live performance.

    Performances are January 24 and January 25m with tickets $12 for the general public and free for museum members. Tickets will go on sale at MoMA’s website on January 10 at 9:30 am (for the Jan. 24 show) and January 11 at 9:30 am (for the Jan. 25 shows). 

    Special merchandise is available through an IndieGoGo set up by The Residents for the upcoming performance at MoMA.

    Since their first official release, Santa Dog, in 1972, The Residents have released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, and ten DVDs. They have undertaken ten major tours and scored multiple films and are considered pioneers in exploring the potential of CD-ROM and similar technologies, having won several awards for their multimedia projects.

    Ralph Records, a record label focusing on avant-garde music, was started by the band. Throughout the group’s existence, the individual members have ostensibly attempted to operate under anonymity, preferring instead to have attention focused on their art output. In public, the group appears silent and costumed, often wearing eyeball helmets, top hats and tails — a long-lasting costume now recognized as its signature iconography.

    In addition to their groundbreaking work in the areas of trance, world fusion, electronica, punk, industrial and lounge music, the group has also been credited with being among the originators of performance art and music video. Two of their videos are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and their Freak Show CD- ROM has recently been featured in MoMA’s “Looking at Music 3.0” exhibition. The Theory of Obscurity, a documentary about The Residents, premiered at SXSW in 2015.

  • Bushwick Public House to host screening of ‘Brooklyn’s Last Waltz’ featuring Mrs. Henry and Garcia Peoples

    At Bushwick Public House on November 20, the east-coast debut screening of Mrs. Henry Presents the Last Waltz will be accompanied by performances from Mrs. Henry and Brooklyn favorites Garcia Peoples.

    The evening includes a documentary film featuring Mrs. Henry from their Last Waltz show two years ago, with both bands playing originals as well as a mix of songs from the Last Waltz. In the spirit of the Last Waltz, the bands will collaborate and invite special guests to the stage throughout the night.

    On November 26, 2017 the Blind Owl Records band Mrs. Henry led by Dan Cervantes (guitar, Howlin Rain) performed the Last Waltz in its entirety with a wonderful community of San Diego artists with guest performances Pat Beers of The Schitzophonics, Brenden Dellar of Sacri Monti, Jesse Lee of The Paragraphs, Clinton Davis, Noah C Lekas and more. The film premiered at the Oceanside Film Festival and will be a part of the International Shorts Film Festival.  

    This screening on November 20 at Bushwick Public House will be the film’s first on the east coast, and joining the musical festivities at Bushwick Public House are Mrs. Henry’s musical comrades, and a favorite in the New York live music scene, cosmic indie jam band Garcia Peoples.

    A celebration of life, love, and great working class music, fittingly performed in working class Brooklyn. For more info visit the event page.

  • Drug Couple shares: debut EP ‘Little Hits;’ release show at The Broadway November 18 in Brooklyn.

    Brooklyn indie rock fix Drug Couple will celebrate their recent debut EP, Little Hits, tomorrow Monday, November 18, released via PaperCup Music. Self-Titled described the EP as “a collection of songs about finding someone special to share the end times with” – referencing everyone from the Gin Blossoms to Shania Twain… ” 

    The EP release show will be held at The Broadway starting at 8pm.

    drug couple little hits

    Drug Couple is a musical duo bonded by Miles and Becca. The pair met in November 2015, when Miles produced a record for Becca’s previous band at The CRC, the Brooklyn studio where he has recorded artists including Chairlift, MGMT, Public Access Television, Buscabulla, Kelsey Lu and more. 

    The duo fell in love in with making music together, and then each other. Since, they’ve been microdosing LSD, considered getting a dog and recorded a collection of songs about finding someone special to share with.

    Drug Couple’s music attempts to showcase a dialogue between genders—as opposed to one sided soliloquies that define popular music. Little Hits is a compilation of tunes to get you high, under-influenced by Yo La Tengo, Dinosaur Jr., and the musical partnership of Mutt Lange and Shania Twain.

    With Miles on vocals, guitar, keyboard, percussion, and production, Becca owns vocals, bass and keyboard; Pastor Greg finishes on drums and percussion. Will Berman played drums on “U Made A Sound,” mastered by Heba Kadry, and produced, engineered, and mixed by Miles. 

    Drug Couple’s writing process is different for every song, but the throughline is a spirit of deep collaboration. They wrote Little Hits at home in Brooklyn, and on trips to Vermont and California. The Couple recorded the EP at the The CRC, where they first met. 

    Drug Couple Tour Dates

    Nov. 18 – The Broadway (EP Release Show) – Brooklyn, NY

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