NYS Music 20​19

Category: NYC Metro

  • Halloween Jerry Dance Party offers Immersive, Psychedelic, Audio/Visual experience

    Following Dead and Company’s Halloween performances at Madison Square Garden on October 31 and November 1, Jerry Dance Party will take place at ZeroSpace, giving Deadheads a chance to keep the dancin late into the night.

    “This is a rare opportunity to bring one of the most inspiring musicians of all-time into New York’s newest, visionary venue on the most creative holiday of year,” said event creator DJ JerrBrother. “Past will meet future when the music of Jerry Garcia plays at ZeroSpace!”

    Inspired by psychedelic late-nights at the LOCKN’, The Jerry Dance Party will take place at New York’s Burning Man-inspired art-tech space ZeroSpace and include thousands of square feet of multi-sensory video mapping, projection and lasers.

    Each Jerry Party room at ZeroSpace will be dedicated to a specific decade of The Dead, providing unique experiences that stretch into the early morning hours. For those Rhythm Devil fans, there will also be a 3D mapped, 30-foot geodesic dome synchronized to “Drums & Space” all night long.

    ZeroSpace is located at 136 W. 33rd St, just steps away from Madison Square Garden. It features custom projections, interactive LED screens, projection mapped floors, synchronized illuminations, the largest augmented reality sandbox in the world and more, all tuned to the magical sounds of The Dead for this exclusive two-night event.

    Tickets for the post-Dead & Company Halloween Jerry Dance Party are $25 and on sale now. This event is 18+. Visit Relix for more information.

  • The Who’s ‘Tommy’ will return to Broadway in 2021

    Pete Townshend and Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff will bring The Who’s Tommy back to Broadway in 2021. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of The Who’s Tommy, which tells the story of a young boy traumatized into deafness and blindness, yet has an unexpected gift for pinball that puts him on the path towards becoming the leader of a messianic movement.

    Inspired by the groundbreaking 1969 LP and the 1975 film adaptation, the staged musical version of The Who’s Tommy first appeared in the summer of 1992 at San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse. It later opened on Broadway in 1993, winning a Grammy and five Tony Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Direction of a Musical.

    With McAnuff and Townshend at the helm, the show won five Tonys that year. Now, with a return to the stage, McAnuff says it is more relevant that ever.

    “Our new production of Tommy will be a reinvention aimed directly at today,” he said of the new production, for which he’ll act as director. “Tommy combines myth and spectacle in a way that truly soars. The key question with any musical is ‘Does the story sing?’ and this one most certainly does. Tommy is the anti-hero ground zero. He is the boy who not only rejects adulthood like Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, but existence itself. He becomes lost in the universe as he stares endlessly and obsessively into the mirror at his own image. This gives our story a powerful resonance today as it seems like the whole world is staring into the black mirror. The story of Tommy exists all too comfortably in the 21st Century. In fact, time may finally have caught up to Tommy Walker.”

    “In every producer’s career a show comes along that feels like a perfect fit,” says producer Hal Luftig. “To have Des and Pete look at Tommy again is extremely exciting and feels just right. I’m thrilled to bring Tommy back home to Broadway where it belongs!” Producer Patrick Catullo adds, “My parents took me to see Des’ original Broadway production for my 16th birthday. It completely blew my mind and is the singular reason I pursued a career in theater. The story is timeless and it’s one of the best scores ever written. I am beyond excited to present The Who’s Tommy not only for its existing fans, but to introduce it to a new audience as well.”

  • In Focus: Charli XCX Craze for Two Sold-Out Nights at Terminal 5

    Hot on the heels of her third full-length LP, Charli XCX closed out her US tour with two sold-out shows at Terminal 5. Crowds packed in to get as close to the front as possible, nearly an hour before her set time. Once Charli took the stage, the crowd screamed, cheered, and sang along to every single word of each song – whether old or new material.

    Charli XCX
    Charli XCX at Terminal 5 – Photo: David Reichmann

    Opening for Charli was a fan favorite, Allie X, who brought a dark and brooding emo presence in contrast with the bright, pop sound Charli’s fans know her for. Often facing away from the crowd with her eyes tightly shut, Allie X seemed to get lost in her own performance, dancing and dramatically gesturing in front of a captive audience.

    Charli XCX
    Allie X at Terminal 5 – Photo: David Reichmann

    Once Charli came on stage, she delighted the crowd with each selection on her setlist, ranging from chart-topping radio hits like “1999,” “Boys” and “I Don’t Care,” to more obscure tracks from her mixtapes and EPs such as “Vroom Vroom” and “Track 10.”

    Charli XCX
    Charli XCX at Terminal 5 – Photo: David Reichmann

    Countless fans in attendance waved Pride flags and dressed in drag. And during her 20-track setlist, Charli took several opportunities to thank her fans in the LGBTQ+ community for their support of her music. She also thanked Troye Sivan, a prominent member of the community and a featured artist on her hit single “1999,” who had joined her on stage the night before at the same venue to perform that song.

    Charli XCX at Terminal 5 – Photo: David Reichmann

    Before closing out her performance, Charli asked the crowd to go wild, get on top of each other’s shoulders, and turn this into “the best F***ing pop concert you’ve ever seen.” Ready, willing, and able, an already-drenched crowd helped Charli XCX finish her US tour with a smash.

    Charli XCX at Terminal 5 – Photo: David Reichmann

    Charli XCX is scheduled to begin her Europe tour shortly, and her new Netflix show, “I’m With the Band” releases November 15. Her latest album, Charli is available now on most streaming music platforms.

  • Marco Benevento ‘Lets it Slide’ at Music Hall of Williamsburg

    Marco Benevento at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Marco Benevento brought his trio to Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday night to showcase their new album Let It Slide. Marco has been a long time fixture in the New York music scene, and that was evident by the packed house and friends engaging with and cheering Marco on from the crowd. Earlier this month, the trio was at Cohoes Music Hall, just north of Troy, NY and the album itself was recorded in Queens.

    Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The show began with a jam packed 45 minute set from The Mattson 2 – consisting of twin brothers Jonathon and Jared Mattson. The duo’s psychedelic jazz is so energetic and dense that if you were not looking you would think there was a four-piece band on stage. Guitarist Jared Mattson loops bass lines and other melodies through a large pedal board while playing a fast-paced, jazz-rock guitar on top of it all. The chemistry between the brothers is palatable, and the banter just as comical. Even as Jared was bouncing all over the stage, the two were able to stay locked in key the whole set.

    The Mattson 2 at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello
    The Mattson 2 at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    A hometown show is always special, and a look of pure joy could be seen on Marco and the band’s faces throughout the night. The crowd was singing and dancing along to every song of the nearly two hour set. The connection between the fans and the group was obvious. Climactic parts of songs would send bassist Karina Rykman leaping into the air with her bass and Marco took every chance he could to jump up from his piano bench.

    Karina Rykman at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The band was electric from start to finish, even when they went on extended jams, it was always captivating. The musicianship from the trio was top-notch, so good their shows are not to be missed!

    Marco Benevento at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The tour continues across North America through February, with a quick flyover to Japan for the Festival De Frue in early November.

  • Annual Tradition Ends: Arlo Guthrie’s Final Thanksgiving Show at Carnegie

    A tradition for more than half a century comes to a close this year. Arlo Guthrie announced that this will be his last time performing his traditional Thanksgiving show at Carnegie Hall. Guthrie has been touring for the anniversary of his iconic song “Alice’s Restaurant,” with daughter Sara Lee Guthrie this year. The pair, along with a host of family and friends, will celebrate one last time at Carnegie on November 30, 2019.

    Tickets for Arlo Guthrie at Carnegie Hall and remaining 2019 tour are available. Tickets are selling fast, and the final Thanksgiving show is expected to sell out.

    The song is based on a series of events that started with his friend’s Ray and Alice, who were renovating an unconsecrated church where they lived. Arthur Penn turned the song into a full-length movie in 1969, set at and around the church and starring Guthrie and many of the people acting as themselves on camera.

    Guthrie purchased the church in 1991 and turned it into a thriving community center. There’s been plenty of work to do on the historic building, which has been standing nearly two hundred years. He’s had the church reconsecrated, and there are regular services.

    Guthrie has worked to fulfill a dream of having a family band, in honor of his father Woody Guthrie. His children, grandchildren, and extended family have been joining him on stage over the years. 

    Read more in Guthrie’s interview with NYS Music.

  • Supergroup Childsplay Fiddles with One Final Tour

    After 32 years Childsplay, comprised with some of the world’s best fiddle players, announced they would be going on tour for the last time. The short six-stop-tour across the Northeast starts in November and will include a performance at Symphony Space  in New York City on November 22. Once again, famous fiddler and fiddle maker, Bob Childs, will lead this group as their time together comes to a close. Other members of the group range include Irish and Scottish fiddle champions to performers from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

    It is hard to believe from that first show in 1986 that this day would come, but we have arrived at the final tour of the band. We’ve performed throughout the United States and Europe showcasing different styles of fiddle music. Through all of this, we have experienced so much pleasure and joy performing in front of some of the greatest audiences. This last tour gives us one more chance to savor and enjoy the magic that happens between our audience and the band.

    Bob Childs, Childsplay Frontman

    Special guests Sheila Falls, National Scottish Fiddle champions Hanneke Cassel and Katie McNally, Boston Symphony Violinist Bonnie Bewick and the talented Virginia fiddler Steve Hickman will be joining the group as they play music selected from their seven albums. Along with exceptional fiddle playing, one can expect original dances by by Molly Gawler, formerly of Pilobolus, Kevin Doyle contributing step-dancing routines. Irish folk singer Karan Casey will also be on the tour, all contributing to what will a series of extra special concerts.

    Childsplay

    The group formed over 30 years ago with only one common denominator, they all played instruments made by Childs. Thus Childsplay was formed. A majority of the music that Childsplay performs is written and arranged by the group with the intention to cover as many fiddle traditions as possible, from Irish to Celtic to the classics and more modern sounds.  

    Tickets for the concerts are on sale now at www.childsplay.org.

    Childsplay Tour Dates

     Nov. 14 – Stockbridge Theatre – Derry, NH

    Nov. 16 – State Theatre – Portland, ME

    Nov. 17 – Latchis Theatre – Brattleboro, VT

    Nov. 21 – Monomoy Regional High School – Harwich, MA

    Nov. 22 – Symphony Space – New York, NY

    Nov. 24 – Sanders Theatre – Cambridge, MA (two shows)

  • ‘One Night Only Again’ Delivers Unique Jams for a Good Cause at The Cap

    One Night Only Again brought awareness to an unfortunate disease called EB, thanks to a few incredible musicians who came together for a special night of jamming at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY last weekend. The night started with a few EB patients on stage rallying for debra of America, the only U.S. non-profit that provides all-inclusive support to the EB community, and ended with two sets of soul satisfying blues standards, jazz, funk and southern rock.

    The EB patients take the stage

    The show began with several patients on stage discussing the difficulties associated with EB, also known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, which causes extremely fragile skin. These brave individuals rallied for Debra, as their bandages can cost up to $85K per month and Debra helps defray this cost and much more. Please visit http://www.debra.org/ for more information.

    Warren Haynes

    After the heartfelt moment with the patients, an all-star cast of musicians emerged on stage to rock out in honor of them, including Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule) on guitar, Joe Russo (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) on drums, John Medeski (Medeski, Martin and Wood) on keys, George Porter Jr (Meters) on bass, and Karl Denson (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe) on saxophone, flute and percussion. 

    These musicians are feeling it!

    Jazzy undertones were present throughout the night as this group had great stage karma, wove through musical genres, and delivered a delicious setlist. Notable jazz-infused rock covers included The Rolling Stone’s “Honky Tonk Woman” and The Allman Brother’s “Whipping Post.” Unfortunately, these songs could only be heard for one night only.

    George Porter Jr.

    Set One: Warren Hayne’s 3 “String George,” Warren Hayne’s “Sick Of My Shadow,” The Meter’s “Just Kissed My Baby,” Allen Toussaint’s “From A Whisper To A Stream,” The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women,” “Good Morning, School Girl” (blues standard), and “32-20 Blues” (blues standard)

    Set Two: The Staple Singers’ “Hammer & Nails” > Smokestack Lightning (blues classic), James Brown’s “The Payback,” Jesse Stone’s “Don’t Let Go,” Warren Hayne’s “River’s Gonna Rise,” The Rolling Stone’s “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” Gov’t Mule’s “Sco-Mule,” The Meters’ “It Ain’t No Use,” The Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post”

    Encore: Cream’s “Politician”

     

  • JRAD confirm 3-night run at The Capitol Theatre in February

    Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) this week confirm they will return to The Capitol Theatre in 2020 with a three night run from February 21-23.

    jrad confirm

    Presale tickets are available via Facebook on Wednesday, October 23 from 12PM to 10PM. The presale password will be available that day via JRAD’s Facebook page.

    Presale continues via The Capitol Theatre on Thursday, October 24 from 12PM until 10PM, and general on sale begins Friday, October 25 at Noon.

  • Premiere: The Phryg is Open with video and single”Bad Habit”

    The Phryg, a four piece progressive funk band from Brooklyn, best known for tremendously original music featuring deep pockets of funk have found their talents bringing them across the country. Today, The Phryg release the video and single for “Bad Habit,” a song about being ‘addicted’ to funk and attempting to suppress the urge to dance when hearing music that makes you want to let loose.

    The lyrics playfully describe the main character coming to terms with his problem and later succumbing to his primal urges stating, “If we could all come to see that the funk is a remedy.”

    The tune opens with a thumping groove between the bass and drums that drops into an intoxicatingly catchy chorus. The verses bounce along as lyrics intertwine with Hammond organ before synth chords. The song climaxes with a fiery guitar solo that twists, turns and ascends upwards. The listener is brought back down to earth with a return to the chorus and the final lyrics, “It’s easier to give in then to refrain – I’ve got a funk bad habit.”

    The video features Seth Schiesel, Terry Brennan (Cousin Earth) and Angelic Aguilera, with videography by Brandon McClasky and editing by Bryan Walters.

    The Phryg most recently played an after party at Garcia’s for a sold out Vida Blue show at The Capitol Theatre, and 2018’s Shakori Hills Festival alongside NY artists like Lettuce and Consider the Source. They’ve shared the stage with Bob Lanzetti of Snarky Puppy, Organ Freeman, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, The Fritz, Cycles and many more. The Phryg released their self-titled full length album in July 2016 as a follow up to their debut EP Midnight Snack.

    The Phryg Fall Tour dates

    Nov. 2 – Official Umphrey’s McGee pre-party at Goose Island – Philadelphia, PA

    Nov. 8 – Casa del Sol – Nyack, NY

    Nov. 22 – Rock Harbor Pub & Brewery – Rockland, ME

    Nov. 23 – Maine Craft Distilling – Portland, ME

    Dec. 28 – Phish after party at Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY

  • In Focus: We Want IDLES – Dominating Terminal 5

    IDLES released their heavily acclaimed LP, Joy as an Act of Resistance, back in August 2018, and the band has been on a meteoric rise ever since. Before the official release, IDLES were playing the intimate Rough Trade NYC, and this past week saw the boys from Bristol playing their biggest headlining show to date at Terminal 5.

    idles
    IDLES at Terminal 5 – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    This leg of the tour wrapped up with four shows in the Northeast, all supported by Preoccupations, who also released an excellent album last year, New Material. Their moody post-punk was a perfect appetizer to the show. The nine-song set spanned all four of the band’s LP releases and included both New Material singles, “Espionage” and “Antidote.” The set finished on a heavy, psychedelic note with a lengthy rendition of “Select Your Drone.”

    idles
    Preoccupations at Terminal 5 – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The moment Preoccupations left the stage, the buzz in the room skyrocketed. The anticipation was humming from the crowd as they shouted “We Want IDLES!” The crew was trying to ready the stage. From the moment the lights dimmed, until the last notes were played, the crowd was fully engaged, sending a steady stream of crowd surfers toward the stage. Several times guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan took their turns stage-diving and floating atop the crowd all without skipping a beat.

    idles
    Preoccupations at Terminal 5 – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Regardless of how animated and aggressive both the audience and band seemed (there was a ‘wall of death’), the central message from the band’s music was never lost: compassion for everyone and community. From frontman Joe Talbot thanking security for the job they were doing, to the various messages of inclusion and respect in many of their songs, this sentiment was prominent throughout the night.

    idles
    IDLES at Terminal 5 – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    IDLES seemed to be racing through their 16 song set, but that was just a testament to the enormous energy behind their performance. Forgoing an encore, Preoccupations joined IDLES on stage to take part in a chaotic rendition of “Rottweiler,” with the drum set slowly being torn apart and cymbals crashing all over the stage.

    idles
    Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)

    The band has also just announced a new live album, A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan, recorded in Paris in December 2018 and out officially December 6, 2019. The live album includes tracks from both of the bands studio LPs, and is a self-contained statement about unity and love. The band will be playing shows in the UK in December, with festival appearances scheduled for next Spring.

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