NYS Music 20​19

Category: Regions

  • Massry Center 2019-20 season adds Wooten Brothers, Martin Sexton, Milk Carton Kids and more

    The Massry Center at The College of Saint Rose has unvieled their 2019-20 season, featuring the Wooten Brothers, Martha Redbone, Martin Sexton, Dallas Brass, Milk Carton Kids and Kat Edmonson. The acoustically incredible Kathleen McManus Picotte Recital Hall and other concert spaces play host to a full slate of musical performances during the year, including orchestral works, chamber music, Latin jazz, zydeco, and more. The calendar also features several performances by Saint Rose Camerata in October, February and March.

    Martha Redbone – Saturday, October 12

    massry wooten brothers

    Martha Redbone is one of today’s most vital voices in American Roots music. A multi award-winning musician, the charismatic songstress with the magnificent voice is celebrated for her tasty gumbo of roots music embodying the folk and mountain blues sounds of her childhood in the Appalachian hills of Kentucky mixed with the eclectic grit of her teenage years in pre-gentrified Brooklyn. With the power of her gospel singing African-American father’s voice and the determined spirit of her Cherokee/Shawnee/Choctaw mother, Redbone broadens all boundaries of Americana.

    Saint Rose Camerata – Saturday, October 26 – George Crumb’s 90th Birthday Celebration

    massry wooten brothers

    Saint Rose Camerata honors American composer George Crumb for his 90th birthday (b. October 24th, 1989. The concert includes a group of songs from his early period, works for amplified instruments, and the use of extended techniques. Written in 1969 during the Apollo 11 flight, Night of the Four Moons features extracted texts from poems by Federico Garcia Lorca and an unusual ensemble combination of mezzo-soprano with flute, electric cello, banjo, and an array of ethnic percussion instruments. Celestial Mechanics [Makrokosmos IV], a piano masterpiece of twentieth century, will be performed with special lighting and projected images.

    Dallas Brass – Saturday, November 9

    Founded in Dallas, TX in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges. They play an eclectic mix of classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music, all with their own unique and sometimes very comical twist!

    Milk Carton Kids – Saturday, December 7

    massry wooten brothers

    The Milk Carton Kids are a neo-traditional folk duo from Los Angeles, California. Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan-formed harmonized vocals and tightly entwined guitar lines might conjure shades of the Everly Brothers or Simon & Garfunkel, but their music has a unique American roots-folk flavor. Their witty onstage banter snaps as crisply as their guitar licks. They’re known on the road for their adversarial, Smothers Brothers-evoking comedic banter as well as their virtuosic guitar skills.

    Saint Rose Camerata – Saturday, February 15 – Nineteenth and Twentieth-Century Chamber Music

    Saint Rose Camerata presents 19th and 20th– century chamber music including a cello sonata by Beethoven (2020 marks the year of his 250th birthday anniversary), works by Dvořák, Martinů, and American composer Juliana Hall.

    Wooten Brothers – Sunday, March 1 

    Victor Wooten, a five-time Grammy Award-winning artist and a founding member of the eclectic group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones,has also been playing with his brothers for over four decades. They are recognized as some of the most innovative musicians in existence and are collectively known as one of the most talented and dynamic band of brothers the world has ever known

    Saint Rose Camerata – Saturday, March 28th Season Finale: Saint Rose Composers and Façade by Walton

    Season Finale: Saint Rose Camerata presents a new work about Chilean artist Violeta Parra by Emily Pinkerton, Assistant Professor of Music Industry, and a work for voice and guitar by American composer Domenic Argento. The program also includes Façade: An Entertainment by British composer William Walton. The work is a clever and entertaining combination of recited poems by Edith Sitwell and Walton’s instrumental music. Saint Rose Camerata will perform selected movements from the collection of over forty poems, which were assembled between 1922 and 1928.

    Kat Edmonson – Saturday, April 25

    Kat Edmonson forged her sound, an unusually charming and seamless blend of old and new, performing in small rooms and clubs before touring worldwide and performing with the likes of Lyle Lovett, Chris Isaak, and more. She has emerged as one of the most distinctive performers in contemporary American music.  With a sweetly mellifluous soprano echoing Blossom Dearie’s lighter-than-air approach as well as her gift for evocative songwriting, Kat is a rare artist who embodies the spirit of the past while remaining resolutely au courant.

    Martin Sexton – Saturday, May 16

    massry wooten brothers

    Syracuse native Sexton got his start singing in the streets and subways of Boston in the early ’90s. Still fiercely independent and headlining venues from The Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, he has influenced a generation of contemporary artists. His songs have appeared in television series and in numerous films, though it’s his incendiary live show, honest lyrics, and vocal prowess that keep fans coming back for more.

    Click here for more info on the Massry Center’s 2019-2020 season.

  • November 17 dont’ miss the next MFDF Funk Night at Nietzsche’s

    Buffalo’s MFDF Funk Night returns to Nietzsche’s on Thursday, November 21, with special guests Sam Pavlovich (Intrepid Travelers) on bass and Matt Felski (Scarlet Begonias) on drums. They’ll be joined by hosts Matt Fantini of Space Junk and Donny Frauenhofer of Intrepid Travelers, DF3 and The Truth.

    Presented by NYS Music, MFDF Funk Night is only $5 for two sets of fun(k) starting at 9pm at Nietzsche’s. Hosts Fantini and Frauenhofer bring a rotating cast of local, regional, and national artists each month for a night of improvised heavy funk.

    The final funk night of 2019 is set for Thursday, December 21. Save the date!

  • In Focus: White Denim Rocks Jersey City

    White Denim blew the proverbial roof off of the new White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, bringing their sweet Austin, Texas rock sound to the East Coast and fans throughout the tri-state area. The two-hour headlining set from the high powered rock outfit never skipped a beat and was virtually non-stop. Night after night, this band displays communal showmanship and a loud lesson for how to make rock and roll work very well in 2019. White Denim presented a two hour clinic is proof that a diversified rock sound played by very talented musicians still deserves a spot in the debate of today’s best contemporary music.

  • Nashville pop-up record store, curated by Grimey’s, hits NYC

    A slice of Nashville can be found in the Big Apple this fall with a pop-up vinyl store, Spin On: Nashville’s Vinyl Collection, having opened on October 1 at SHOWFIELDS in NoHo. Curated by Nashville’s world-renowned record store, Grimey’s, in celebration of its 20-year anniversary, Spin On will offer a curated selection of vinyl records by artists who live in Nashville or albums that were recorded in Nashville.

    “The Music City brand is at the heart of Nashville’s tourism success and the city’s overall success,” says Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “We think this is a creative way to showcase and reinforce the strength and diversity of the music that’s created, written and recorded in Nashville.”

    Grimey’s is Nashville’s independent record store since 1999, specializing in new and preowned vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, books, magazines, turntables, and other tangible artifacts. The Nashville trademark regularly hosts live performances, record release parties, book signings and interviews.

    Grimey's

    SHOWFIELDS’ flagship store premiered in December 2018 at 11 Bond Street in New York and has since grown into a revolving array of art, food, drink and community programming bridging art and retail in the heart of NOHO.

    Spin On will be open October 1-January 15 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and noon to 8 p.m. on Monday.

    In addition to the incredible selection of vinyl, the unique pop-up at SHOWFIELDS will host intimate performances, signings and more.

    Current Lineup of In-Store Appearances:

    October 9, 6-7pm: Kalie Shorr

    October 10, 5-5:30pm: John Hiatt

    October 15, 1-3pm: Jessy Wilson

    November 5, 6-7pm: Andrew Combs

    November 10, 3-4pm: Trent Dabbs

  • Widespread Panic announce 5 nights at The Beacon Theatre

    Widespread Panic will return to New York City for the first time in seven years, with five nights planned in early 2020. The Athens, GA band will hold a five-night residency at the legendary Beacon Theatre, February 27, 28, 29th and March 1 & 2nd. Tickets are on sale Friday, October 11th at 11am ET. Click here for more info.

    Check out our coverage of Panic’s last performance in NYC, at Madison Square Garden Theater in November 2013.

  • Historic Albany nightclub Rain-Bo Room, frequented by Sinatra, Calloway and Ellington, to reopen

    Inside the expansive back room in the northwest corner of the old Kenmore Hotel hangs a drab, grey curtain concealing the last piece of history tied to the space.

    The curtain protects a mural called “The Court of Cleopatra,” painted on the wall above a modest stage on which Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington played. It’s a depiction of the Queen of Egypt, whose beauty was unparalleled and whose intelligence matched that of the powerful men she seduced, most notably Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. It’s placement high upon the wall implied that this was the room in which the masters of the universe was expected to frolic.

    Rain-Bo Room
    1948 Cab Calloway Rainbo Room via Albany Group

    The space is now in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation project that’s breathing new life to the North Pearl eyesore. Modern day Dapper Dons in hardhats expose the promise of a bright future, and at the same time enhance the ghosts of the hotel’s storied past.

    When William Kennedy wrote about the Rain-Bo Room in “O’Albany,” he was still able to observe a piano on that stage. He imagined someone playing “Happy Days and Lonely Nights,” a tune Ruth Etting made popular in 1928, and a reported favorite of the Kenmore’s most famous resident, Jack “Legs” Diamond.

    Diamond’s name was never mentioned during the press conference called by Redburn Development to announce the Rain-Bo Room’s intended rebranding as the Kenmore Ballroom. Nor would it be expected. He was a New York City mobster, whose charges included burglary, kidnapping and bootlegging. Nonetheless, he was a celebrity.

    Rain-Bo Room

    Diamond’s vocation aside, his choice of haunts reveals that the Rain-Bo Room was Albany’s top nightclub during the Roaring Twenties. Stars of the Big Band area would flock up the Hudson River to play there, especially lured by the prospect of broadcasting their live performances on the radio.

    “The Kenmore Ballroom is the heart of this building at the heart of this development,” said Jeffrey Buell, principal of Redburn Development. “We want to fill the space with life, life that spills out into the surrounding streets and supports all of the Downtown.”

    Katie O’Malley Maloney and her husband Nate Maloney will manage The Kenmore Ballroom. O’Malley Maloney has her own long history with the City of Albany. She served as the 50th Anniversary Tulip Queen and worked for the City of Albany planning events and fundraising under former mayor.

    Rain-Bo Room

    Jerry Jennings. She also owns and runs Katie O’ Weddings and Events, an event planning firm celebrating its 10th anniversary later this year. Nate brings over 20 years of corporate and not-for-profit marketing, communications, and event experience to their first venture together. Katie will oversee the day-to-day operations along with Casey Benson, Vice President of Operations for the organization.

    “We are thrilled to be back in Albany and to be a part of the revitalization of Downtown” said O’Malley Maloney. “The Rain-Bo Room was once a vibrant centerpiece of Albany culture and society. We are excited to return the vibrancy of this historic space as the Kenmore Ballroom.”

    The Kenmore Ballroom will accommodate up to 300 people for a seated function. The ornate double staircase, demolished when the building was turned into offices, will be rebuilt as the centerpiece of the space. It will also have a separate bar lounge and rooftop deck. For Elizabeth Young Jojo, she focused on the opulence of the room’s past while choosing all of its fixtures and accents.

    Rain-Bo Room

    “We chose an Art Nouveau inspiration,” said Young Jojo, vice president at Redburn Developments. “That, mixed with some super, super modern elements, as well.” The Art Nouveau style was popular during the turn of the last century, a look characterised by curves and asymmetric shapes to provide the illusion of movement. The juxtaposition of elements, Young Jojo said, “I think will be very fresh, that there is no other space like that in the Capital Region.”

    “Projects like the revitalization of The Kenmore and its ballroom are transforming downtown Albany,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “Thank you to Redburn for their commitment to Downtown, and to Katie O’Malley Maloney and Nate Maloney for believing in Albany and investing in Albany’s newest neighborhood.”

    The Kenmore Building rehab project is part of a nine-building, $82 million neighborhood revitalization that will bring 350 apartments and 11 commercial spaces to a three-block radius. The first phase of the multi-building project, The Knick at 16 Sheridan, will welcome new tenants this week. The Kenmore is expected to be open by October 2020.

    This article was originally published by The Spot 518

  • In Focus: Ty Segall invades The Bowery

    Ty Segall & The Freedom Band are playing extended residencies in cities all around the world. They are playing his new album First Taste in full as well as many of the eccentric artist’s older albums. After a five-night stay at The Bowery Ballroom, the word is out on the amazing double drum, guitar-less new album that fans are boasting is his best yet.

    The performance of First Taste really makes the most of the two-drummer setup, with Ty moving back and forth from a kit positioned at the front of the stage at least once every song. It is his great connection with The Freedom Band that blends so many different styles of music, leaving no trouble in making a crazed, heavy and loud as hell rock n’ roll experience.

  • Hearing Aide: Willem debuts EP

    Willem takes the modern languid sounds of Post Malone, Mac Miller and combines it with the mellow tones of WIlco and Neutral Milk Hotel. He hails from Albany but is currently a musical engineering student at Purchase College.  His debut EP uses the elements of his previous collaborations with NRV and SIMONEAR (Tomorrow, Mrs. Rebound) and blends them into a moment leaving you wanting more.  

    “Hit the Floor” was released as a teaser for the EP in the spring: it’s joyful, flirtatious lyrics are combined with a soft but driving beat that ends with the listener yearning for summer.  “November” reminds you of rainy, bittersweet days in bed with a partner and recognizing that winter is coming just like the end of a relationship. 

    The interlude between the tracks provides the emotional space for one to consider the next song title. 

    “We Could Be Friends” brings about the renewal and inner maturity needed to release the listener from grappling with the previous tracks themes. With “Lately,” Willem’s voice reaches a place unexplored earlier; he takes it down a step and explores a level a loneliness that resonates with the rest of the EP but holds the potential for more to come.  

    What more is there to say?  It’s short but not in a way that punk, grindcore, or any other genre priding itself in brevity could hope to muster. Willem achieves something that many young artists want but rarely earn: writing a debut worth listening to on repeat and being able to do so if you have more than 10 mins to spare–it’s like Reign in Blood for the digital era, but without the physical sensation of flipping a cassette to hear the same good time again.

    Key Tracks: Hit the Floor, November

  • Cohoes Music Hall is chock full of great music this fall

    The historic Cohoes Music Hall just north of Albany is hosting an incredible slate of music this fall. Built in 1874, the venue has been the hub for entertainment and culture in the Spindle City, with an ornate style, brilliant acoustics and intimate setting for shows of all genres, as well as musicals and more. All shows are all ages, with doors opening at 7pm and music starting at 8pm. Click here for more info on the shows.

    Thursday, October 10 – Melvin Seals & JGB

    Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music”. From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up. John Kadlecik will be joining the band on lead guitar.

    Saturday, October 12 – Marco Benevento with special guest Mikaela Davis

    Touring in support of his new record ‘Let It Slide’. Dubbed “one of the most talented keys players of our time” by CBS Radio, Benevento’s released six critically acclaimed solo albums over the last decade, performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall and Newport Jazz to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. “It’s safe to say that no one sees the keyboard quite like Marco Benevento’s genre-blind mashup of indie rock, jazz and skewed improvisation,” the LA Times raved, while NPR said he combines “the thrust of rock, the questing of jazz and the experimental ecstasy of jam.”

    Friday, November 8th – Marc Cohn

    After winning a Grammy for his soulful ballad “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Rooted in the rich ground of American rhythm and blues, soul and gospel and possessed of a deft storyteller’s pen, he weaves vivid, detailed, often drawn-from-life tales that evoke some of our most universal human feelings: love, hope, faith, joy, heartbreak.

    Saturday, November 16th – North Mississippi Allstars

    Founded in 1996 by brothers Luther (guitar and vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, piano, synth bass, programming and vocals), the now venerable blues rock band are entering their third decade. “This is a very exciting time for North Mississippi Allstars,” Cody says. “There’s been this explosion of creativity lately and it’s encouraging that for a band who has been around for twenty years now, our music is as vital and fresh as ever. It’s like the opposite of burnout — I can’t explain why but it feels totally brand new again.”

    Wednesday, November 20th – Tommy Castro & Tinsley Ellis

    Tinsley Ellis wears his Southern roots proudly. Born in Atlanta in 1957, he grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight. Averaging over 150 live shows a year, Ellis has played in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. Whether he’s out with his own band or sharing stages with major artists like Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule or Widespread Panic, he always digs deep and plays, as Guitar Player says, “…as if his life depended on it.” 

    Whether Tommy Castro is squeezing out the deepest blues or playing the funkiest soul grooves, legendary blues and soul giant Tommy Castro knows how to ignite a crowd. Over the course of his still-unfolding career, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has released 15 albums ranging from horn-fueled soul and R&B to piping hot blues to fiery rock ‘n’ roll.

    Thursday, November 21st – Lotus with special guest Wax Future

    Lotus has always been difficult to define musically; an instrumental jamband that has favored groove-based improvisation instead of gaudy solos and noodling. Influences of classic electronic dance music, funk, post-rock and dance-rock have all made their way into the Lotus sound. Approaching two decades together, Lotus has toured actively throughout the US working their way up from dingy basement clubs to world-class venues such as Red Rocks.

  • The Moho Collective Blasts Rochester with ‘Akra’ Release

    The Moho Collective trio will once again return to Lovin’ Cup on October 11, 2019 to celebrate the release of their new EP Akra. Ben Proctor of  The Crooked North is set to provide a solo act to open the show. The Moho Collective will then be joined by a seven-piece ensemble that will include members from The Mighty High and Dry, The Eastman Jazz Ensemble and The Saplings, as attendees will enjoy hearing Akra performed in its entirety.

    Lovin’ Cup is a venue located in Rochester, NY and has hosted the band’s release parties since their first in 2010. This includes the EP Soma that was released just last year. Though The Moho Collective previously spent much of their early career touring the North-East, they decided to go in a different direction and take time off to record tracks with the Temperamental Recordings label out of Geneseo, NY. Soma and Akra are both the result of this studio time, with more releases to come in the future.

    Even with the trio deviating from their usual form of practicing new music live until it is perfect, staying true to form Akra is anything but stagnant. The crowd at Lovin’ Cup can expect more musical experimentation and the trio’s first ever vocal performance. Not only is Akra just as unique as the rest of their recordings but listeners will also hear guest performances from Dana Colley of Morphine and Mike Brown, owner of Temperamental Recordings.

    Doors open at 7 PM with the show starting at 8 PM. Tickets are available ONLINE or at Lovin’ Cup, which includes a copy of the EP.

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