NYS Music 20​19

Category: NYC Metro

  • 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.

  • David Grisman’s Dawg Trio Takes Manhattan

    Armed with a new album and a stellar bluegrass catalog to pull from, the all-star Dawg Trio made beautiful music at the storied Iridium Jazz Club in midtown Manhattan. The evening included plenty of intricate songs, a special guest on the “mouth trumpet,” and a cover last played with Jerry Garcia.

    Dawg Trio
    The Dawg Trio

    The band was led by legendary musician, composer, archivist and frequent Jerry Garcia collaborator, David Grisman on mandolin and vocals. Mr. Grisman was joined by a Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Award-winner Danny Barnes on banjo, guitar and vocals. Grisman’s son, Sam Grisman, completed the trifecta on the upright bass and vocals. 

    Dawg Trio
    David and Sam Grisman

    Grisman began the evening with light hearted humor, asking the crowd, “Does anyone own CD’s anymore?”  The band released a new album in October, appropriately titled Dawg Trio. He mentioned that they had CDs to sell, but wasn’t sure where they were.

    Dawg Trio
    Smiles were frequent at the Dawg Trio

    Grammy-nominated Robert Gurland joined the party during the set, playing one song with his “mouth trumpet.” This impressive skill requires no instruments and sounds very similar to an actual trumpet. His skill and adeptness are reminiscent of Keller Williams, who uses this technique in his solo shows. The entire band was all smiles while Gurland was on stage, and throughout the show.

    Dawg Trio
    Robert Gurland on the mouth trumpet

    Sam Grisman took the helm during “Zadeh’s Waltz” from Dawg Trio. He also filled big shoes by singing Jerry Garcia’s part in “When First Unto This Country.” Prior to the song, Grisman announced that the last time he played this song was with Jerry Garcia. Sam’s vocals were a great tribute to the late Garcia, and showed that he looks forward to a promising musical career.

    Dawg Trio
    Sam Grisman on the upright bass

    Danny Barnes showed his wild talent throughout the evening, but particularly shined during “Super Grits,” from Dawg Trio. His unconventional and wild approach was refreshing and made for deliciously detailed jams. The show wrapped up with the intricate bluegrass standard “Things In Life,” proving that mandolin juggernaut Grisman still has still “got it” after all these years.

    Dawg Trio
    Sam Grisman and Danny Barnes sing their hearts out

  • Joe Russo’s Almost Dead announce 2020 tour dates, including Artpark performance in June

    including a three-night run at The Capitol Theatre in February and Artpark in June, Almost Dead fans around the country will be treated to the supergroup performing the music of the Grateful Dead with their own signature style.

    almost dead artpark

    Tickets are available via Facebook presale for these newly announced shows starting Wednesday, November 20 in three groups, beginning at 11 AM and continues at 12PM and 1PM. Passwords for these on sales will be announced via the JRAD Facebook page. General onsale will start Friday, Nov. 22 in three groups at 11am, 12pm and 1pm.

    More dates will be announced in coming weeks.

    Joe Russo’s Almost Dead 2020 Tour

    Nov. 25 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl (Headcount benefit)
    Feb. 21 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
    Feb. 22 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
    Feb. 23 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
    Mar. 12 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
    Mar. 13 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
    Mar. 14 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
    Mar. 15 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
    Apr. 25 – Asheville, NC – Salvage Station
    Apr. 26 – Atlanta, GA – SweetWater 420 Fest
    May 1 – New Orleans, LA – Mardi Gras World Ballroom
    May 2 – New Orleans, LA – Mardi Gras World Ballroom
    June 5 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    June 18 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion
    June 19 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark almost dead
    June 20 – Boston, MA – Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
    July 9 – Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Amphitheater
    July 10 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
    July 11 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
    Sept. 25 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
    Sept. 26 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater

  • Return to Roots: Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Jontavious Willis take listeners back in time

    Blues music legend Willie Dixon liked to say, “Blues is the roots, the rest is the fruits,” to explain the influence of that genre on other forms of music. But as the music progresses, the roots of blues music itself are sometimes heard less often, lost in the cacophony of over-amplified electric guitarists with pedalboards the size of dinner tables. Fortunately, two young bluesmen, neither of them more than 33 years old, are preserving and promoting the roots.

    Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Jontavious Willis have paired together for a brief tour that found its way to the Auburn Public Theater on Sunday, November 17. Playing to an intimate, attentive audience of perhaps 60 people.

    Jontavious Willis and Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton

    Paxton opened the evening, displaying comfortable ease in switching from guitar, to banjo, to harmonica, and then fiddle throughout his set. He covered a range of jazz, ragtime, train songs, and acoustic blues. Incorporating finger-picking, flat-picking, and slide playing styles. Paxton also utilized particularly bawdy humor that was often a staple of both minstrel shows and blues songs that hark back to the ’20s and ’30s. A skilled storyteller, Paxton explained how songs came to influence him, through his family and personal experiences, or through their historical significance. His music can be found here.

    Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton

    Jontavious Willis followed with more of the same styles of roots and blues music, though many were more contemporary in origin, including original songs of his. A popular performer in Central New York, Willis has also performed in Norwich and Syracuse, and was returning to Auburn after a very well-received show just last year. Willis released his highly acclaimed recording Spectacular Class, in April of this year, produced by Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’. It is available here.

    The duo paired for an impromptu song at the back of the audience, before returning to the stage for one final song together. The setting, and smaller crowd, made for a distinct connection between the musicians and the audience, and shaped the evening into an enjoyable journey back to times, places, and songs that impacted what is heard today in blues, roots, Americana music, and more.

    Jerron Paxton and Jontavious Willis ask the audience for one more song.

    NYSMusic.com fans can hear Paxton and Willis at City Vineyard in New York City on Tuesday, November 19, tickets available here, and Thursday, November 21, at the historic Caffé Lena in Saratoga Springs, tickets available here.

    • Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton
    • Jontavious Willis

  • Old Crow Medicine Show Brought Nashville to the Town Hall

    Adorned in denim, button-up shirts and boots, Old Crow Medicine Show delivered their high energy blue-grass, folk and country to The Town Hall in New York City. Last Thursday they successfully transported the city slicker crowd to their hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. They danced, jammed and harmonized with a celebrated Southern spirit, spiked with outlaw charm.

    Charlie Warsham, an up-and-coming Country music singer/songwriter from Grenada, Mississippi – and current member of Old Crow Medicine Show, kicked off the evening. Armed with an acoustic guitar and his excellent vocals, he delivered a mix of originals and covers, as well as plenty of Southern banter and grace. He closed out his solo set with “Oscar the Angel,” a heartfelt cover of Don Schlitz.

    Charlie Warsham opened up the evening.

    After Warsham got the crowd warmed up, Old Crow Medicine Show took the stage with vigor. The current lineup includes Joe Andrews (pedal steel, dobro, vocals), Morgan Jahnig (Upright bass), Ketch Secor (Fiddle, Haromica, Banjo, Vocals), Cory Younts (Mandolin, Keyboards, Drums, Vocals), Critter Fuqua (Slide Guitar, Banjo, Vocals) and Warsham (guitar, vocals). Band members were often seen jamming from the energy of each other, in synchronized dance-step.

    Old Crow Medicine excels at playing off the energy of each other

    The band played a mix of originals and covers. One notable cover was the stoner gospel tune “I Hope I’m Stoned (When Jesus Takes Me Home),” written by Charlie Warsham and Ashley Monroe for his solo act. The entire group gathered at the front of the stage to harmonize on vocals, with Warhsam taking the lead. The lyrics “A little piece of heaven to take away your blues” are an appropriate description for the incredible show that these talented musicians put on. “Tenneesee Bound,” “Tell It To Me” and “Brushy Mountain Conjugal Trailer” were a few of the originals played this evening.

    Charlie Warsham and Ketch Secor include dance moves while they jam

    Old Crow Medicine Show has a limited number of shows left on their 2019 tour. Hop on over to their tour page for more details.

  • Tennis announce ‘Swimmer Tour’ with Molly Burch, new album due in February 2020

    Acclaimed indie-pop duo Tennis has announced a major North American headline tour heralding their highly anticipated fifth studio album SWIMMER, due out on Feb.14.

    The first single from the album, and first new music in nearly three years, “Runner,” was released with news of the tour, along with a colorful companion video, directed by longtime collaborator Luca Venter and inspired by singer Alaina Moore’s love of “old musicals and all things Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Bob Fosse.”

    “Runner” was called an “incandescent taste of Tennis’s upcoming fifth LP,” by Australia’s Happy, and Cool Hunting hailed the “Runner” video with advice to “Bliss out in technicolor. The visual treatment is full of sequins, night skies and satin—the ideal accompaniment for Moore’s falsetto, crescendoing synths, and lush production.”

    Known as a captivating and charismatic live act, Tennis will celebrate the recent premiere of “Runner” with a much-anticipated headline performance at Atlanta, GA’s Over/Under Music Fest on Saturday, Nov. 23. The duo has spent much of its existence on the road, including sold-out headline runs, festival sets, tours alongside such like-minded artists as Father John Misty, Spoon, The Decemberists, and The Shins, and most recently, a sold-out summer double bill with Mumford & Sons at Englewood, CO’s Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre.

    Produced by Tennis and mixed by four-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee Claudius Mittendorfer (Panic! At The Disco, Parquet Courts), SWIMMER sees the Denver, CO-based husband and wife duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore elevating their distinctive pop approach to heretofore unexplored new heights, experimenting with atypical instrumentation, complex time changes, and an increased focus on lyrical storytelling fueled in part by a series of life-changing experiences that only served to strengthen their already powerful personal and creative bond.

    “’Runner’ is the first song we wrote for our fifth record,” says Moore. “It began as a guitar riff Patrick recorded while we were living off-grid, anchored in a fisherman’s cove called San Juanico. The only instruments we had on board were an acoustic guitar and a drum sequencer, but the limitations seemed to work in our favor. Until that point, we had no clear vision for our writing. The demo Patrick recorded that day outlined our future, the first contours of our next record.”

    In addition to their frequent live activity, Tennis has made a number of high profile media appearances, spanning NPR to NBC, while also collaborating on campaigns for top brands like Gucci, Madewell, and Vinyl Me, Please.

    Tennis Swimmer Tour dates

    November 2019
    23 – Over/Under Music Fest – Atlanta, GA

    February 2020
    25 – Madrid Theatre & Cafe – Kansas City, MO
    27 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
    28 – Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX
    29 – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q – Austin, TX

    March 2020
    2 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
    4 – Meow Wolf – Santa Fe, NM 
    26 – Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
    28 – Top Hat Lounge – Missoula, MT
    30 – Venue Nightclub – Vancouver, BC
    31 – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA

    April 2020
    1 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
    3 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
    4 – The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
    5 – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA
    8 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
    10 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO 
    16 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE 
    17 – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis, MN 
    18 – The Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
    20 – Majestic Theatre Center – Detroit, MI
    21 – Deluxe at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN
    22 – The Opera House – Toronto, ON
    24 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
    25 – Royale – Boston, MA
    26 – Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
    28 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
     29 – The 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
    30 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA

    May 2020
    1- Haw River Ballroom – Saxapahaw, NC
    4 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL
    6 – Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN
    8 – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY
    9 – Delmar Hall – Saint Louis, MO

    All headline dates with Molly Burch

  • 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

  • NY Solo artists Nick Granelle and Evan Lesoule collaborate on ‘Transform’

    Nick Granelle, a vocalist from Long Island, gathered Bronx rapper Evan Lesoule and NYC based singer/songwriter Lillimure together in order to create his new single “Transformation.” Released on Friday, November 1, the track starts as a beat created by Jade Aubertin, utilizing a kalimba in place of a hi hat, and various unconventional percussion instruments, as well as 808 to make the track fall into amorphous categories. From there, Granelle created a multifaceted track with recorded vocals by Lesoule.

    Nick Granelle Evan Lesoule
    Evan Lesoule

    Some flavors that come to mind when listening to the track are world, pop, and hip-hop, all mixed together with ethereal female vocals, and features an uptempo ambience packed with many elements. The music video is dark, industrial and hectic, using both vintage and modern contrasting shots.

    Nick Granelle

  • Judges announced for Westchester-based Music Video Film Festival

    Gorilla River has announced an expert panel of judges for the Music Video Film Festival, planned for Saturday, February 8 at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. Sirius XM host Mark Goodman (One of MTV’s “First Five VJs”), Vevo VP of Original Content and Production Ed Walker, and music journalist Alan Light (author of Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain, and The Skills to Pay the Bills: The Story of the Beastie Boys) will offer commentary on 10 music videos which will be screened at the event. They’ll then select three winners who will get to present their videos at the 2020 Hudson Valley Music Summit.

    music video film festival

    The inaugural event brings music videos together with fun commentary and live music. The 10 artists who are selected will be given a 15 minute slot, allowing them to share their vision with the audience, show their video and receive feedback from the judges.

    “MTV came on the around the time when I first became aware of music in general, so it’s an honor to have a familiar face like Mark Goodman join us at our inaugural event,” said Gorilla River CEO Dave Hoffman. “Alan Light and Ed Walker also bring insight based on their unique vantage points in the industry. We’re very much looking forward to hearing what kind of wisdom they have to offer.”

    The Music Video Film Festival is an extension of the Hudson Valley Music Summit which launched this past summer in Kingston, NY.  The Summit is a full-day of panel discussions designed for managers, A&R reps, publicists, and anyone who is responsible for managing an artist’s career. Local luminaries such as Pete Shapiro, owner of the Capitol Theatre and Stefani Scamardo of Hard Head Management spoke at the 2019 event. In addition to expert insight, the 200 music industry professionals in attendance enjoyed vendor tables, live performances, and a music video presented by Dennis Dunaway, founding bassist of the Alice Cooper Group.

    The Music Video Film Festival promises to tap into the same spirit of creative enthusiasm as it brings a new music and film event to rock and roll fans in the area.

    “This is the first event we’re doing that is specifically designed to be enjoyed by fans,” said Hoffman, who has extensive experience producing global B2B conferences. “Our tagline is ‘You want it, you got it.’ Members of the MTV Generation will get the reference.”

    Bands and Video Directors looking to submit should visit the festival website for details.  

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