Chicago-based DJ collective Orchard Lounge return to New York City on Friday, February 7 for their first ever performance at Gramercy Theatre, joined by DrFameus and Brooklyn electronic producer Maŕa.
Orchard Lounge and DrFameus are no strangers to taking the stage together, most recently sharing the bill and even performing with each other at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver. While a rarity that these acts share a bill and stage with one another, they’ll surely be performing together at some point throughout the night.
DrFameus, the solo electronic music project created by the versatile Disco Biscuits’ drummer Allen Aucoin finds him exploring many musical realms, ranging from breakbeats to drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, techno and house. The performance is a combination of Allen’s live drumming over his original production and different mixes.
Maŕa, a Brooklyn-based electronic producer, uses her unassuming demeanor and disarming look “to put listeners on their asses.” As the creator of Brooklyn’s Cultivated Sound, she brought a fresh, unique face to the local techno scene, blending blistering hard beats with synthetic and dulling bludgeoning bass. She exudes a raw sexuality when slamming long blended transitions from smoother minimal techno to “bastardly boosted beats”
Doors open at 10 PM for this show, with tickets available starting at 10am on Friday, November 8.
Folk troubadours Caravan of Thieves will return to stages across North America this winter after taking two years off from touring for personal and artistic growth and they’ll celebrate their return with a holiday concert performance at FTC Stage One on Saturday, November 16. Marking their only show for the remainder of 2019, Fuzz and Carrie Sangiovanni got their start in Bridgeport, CT in 2008 and have continued to expand their artistic vision and bring in a variety of new stringed instrument players into the Caravan of Thieves lineup.
Originally inspired by the big band swing era, the Quintette du Hot Club de France, and early American folk music, the acoustic guitar playing and singing duo Caravan of Thieves took local musicians Brian Anderson (upright bass) and Ben Dean (violin) out on the road with them to test drive their new concept. By the end of 2008, the Caravan began to gain recognition for their distinctive style, released their debut full-length album Bouquet (2009)and have shared stages with a wide variety of artists such as Emmylou Harris, Dan Hicks, The Decemberists, Keb Mo, Tom Tom Club, Punch Brothers, among others. Live performances cover a wide range of intimate acoustic duets to exciting junk-percussion jams to big audience stomp, clap and sing-alongs.
According to Fuzz and
Carrie, “We’re driven to consistently entertain our audience, in concert and on
our studio recordings, which lends to building a community of listeners who can
be involved in our show and our creative process in some way, as well as a
variety of artists who we can share our vision with. These elements allow our
band and our music to be alive and have a soul.”
Fuzz and Carrie brought in some change for 2016 and went out for a few national tours with new members of the group, releasing a duo album Maple Hill Sessions, Vol 1 (2016), an intimate recording inspired by the recent duo moments in the Caravan of Thieves shows.
The recharged Caravan will embark on a winter tour with select East Coast dates which have yet to be announced.
Alanis Morissette will perform her seminal 1995 album Jagged Little Pill at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem on Monday, December 2. The fully acoustic performance will be followed by a Q&A with Alan Light, co-host of SiriusXM Pandora show Debatable. The one-night only event celebrates the opening week of Jagged Little Pill the Musical at the Broadhurst Theater, with the first performance on Friday, December 5.
Jagged Little Pill won five Grammys including album of the year. The Broadway version of the album features an original story by Diablo Cody.
Pre-sale tickets go on sale Thursday, November 7 at 10am – make sure to sign up for the mailing list by Wednesday, November 6 at 5pm to receive a pre-sale code.
They say “never miss a Sunday show” and whoever “they” are were right about the packed house turned listening room at the beautiful State Theater of Ithaca for a magical night of music from Gregory Alan Isakov with support from Luke Sital-Singh. The clocks were set back earlier in the morning and the audience was also taken on a trip through time when singer-songwriters ruled the land, everyone hung on each word and the music became part of the environment, like listening to the waterfalls just up the road in Treman State Park.
Isakov commands the stage with such simplicity, like a circa 1962 Bob Dylan, when a personality becomes the music. His showmanship exists only in the respect he has for his bandmates and the humble nature of how he addresses the audience and the nature of his songwriting. It is as if one can hear the wind wailing through the Colorado mountain passes in each harmony drifting through the five pieces of his band over the land Isakov farms and writes on. He is, after all, billed as a farmer first – a most important trade, becoming harder and harder in our current world. However, just as obvious as his love for the land, his touring band captures a mystic and ghostly quality that enriches the often forlorn lyrics. It’s as if the dust bowl of “The Grapes of Wrath” meets Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac stranded under millions of mountain stars with the music of Hank Williams trickling out of a passing train. One could try to categorize Isakov’s music as indie or folk, but there is far more at play and it is a show that must be seen to be believed.
“Oh, highway boys all sleeping in With their dirty mouths and broken strings Oh, their eyes are shining like the sea For you, the queen of San Luis I’m a ghost of you, you’re a ghost of me A bird’s-eye view of San Luis.” – Isakov
Photo: Aurora Roe
Isakov was born in Johannesburg and immigrated at the age of seven to the US. He started touring at the age of 16 and released his first album in 2003. His musical career is very interesting and he even dusted of an old song, “I’ll Feed Your Horses,” that he wrote about recording with Brandi Carlile. It was a very tight set that prominently featured two guitars, violin, bass, drums and a few songs with banjo. The band played several songs in the middle of the set around one microphone, which added to the beauty and “old timey” feeling of the evening. Towards the end of the first set, Isakov brought out opening act Sital-Singh for a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost Of Tom Joad,” noting that as they walked around Ithaca, NY they both spoke of their passion for “The Boss.”
Photo: Jordan Rucks
Sital-Singh played a beautiful opening solo set, alternating with an acoustic and electric guitar. His stage presence was endearing and fun and he captured the audience with witty banter between songs. Just as with Isakov, it was a complete listening room for Sital-Singh and he definitely made many new fans. The tour continues throughout the Midwest and South, moves abroad for a few shows, and then comes back to the West Coast of the States. Many of the shows are already sold out. You can follow the tour HERE.
Members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra shut down the house with a robust symphony performance of four classical pieces at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday night. As the musicians took to the stage, excitement rose in the room as everyone got ready to celebrate ESYO’s 40th Anniversary Celebration. The crowded room had a diverse audience of young and old, supporting family members and fans of classical music alike. Renowned for its amazing acoustics, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall served as a perfect venue.
With as much animation as the small box on which he stood would allow, conductor Carlos Agreda drew exactly what was needed out of the 100 Capital Region middle and high school students sitting on stage.
Opening the concert was Dmitri Shostakovich’s ‘Festive Overture OP.96.’ This celebrative piece, while the shortest of the night, was the perfect set up for what was to come. ESYO Alumni Kenneth Olsen took the stage to perform the solo of the four movement ‘Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra’ by Edward Elgar. Hailing from the Albany area and a graduate of Colonie High School, Olsen feverishly tore through the piece all from memory which brought the crowd to their feet in applause.
After a brief intermission the audience returned to their seats for the final two pieces. First up was the wildly popular Overture to ‘Die Fledermaus’ by Johann Strauss Jr., bringing another witty and playful piece to the set before the musicians settled in for their most complex piece of the night. The grandeur sounds of composer Ottorino Respighi filled the venue as the students undertook the ‘Pines of Rome’ with near perfection. Through four movements, using various melodies and rhythms including a recording of a nightingale, the audience was transported to another time and place.
Agreda asked at the beginning of the concert, “Why ESYO? Why should one support the arts?” The smiling faces and teary eyes from nearly every person in the room was answer enough. ESYO provides students a chance at pursuing musical excellence and reminding us all that music speaks where words fail.
Be sure to check
out ESYO’s website for the upcoming 2019-2020
season including their annual Melodies of Christmas at Proctors Theatre in
Schenectady.
ESYO
Upcoming Concert Dates
Nov. 24 – TBA
Dec. 6 – Fransworth
Middle School – Guilderland, NY
Dec. 15 – Massry
Center for the Arts, College of Saint Rose – Albany, NY
Dec. 19-22 –
Proctors Theatre – Schenectady, NY (Melodies of Christmas)
Feb. 1 – Crossgates
Mall – Albany, NY
Feb. 12 – Clayton
B. Bouton High School – Voorheesville, NY
Feb. 13 – TBA
Feb. 27 – Massry
Center for the Arts, College of Saint Rose – Albany, NY
Mar. 9 – UAlbany
Performing Arts Center – Albany, NY
Mar. 29 – UAlbany
Performing Arts Center – Albany, NY
Apr. 1 – Proctor’s Theatre
– Schenectady, NY
Apr. 26 – Troy
Savings Bank Music Hall
May 1 – TBA
May 2 – Arthur
Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College – Saratoga Springs, NY
May 3 – Brown
School – Schenectady, NY
May 10 – Massry
Center for the Arts, College of Saint Rose – Albany, NY
May 17 – Massry
Center for the Arts, College of Saint Rose – Albany, NY
May 31 – Saratoga
Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
June 20 – GE
Theatre at Proctors – Schenectady, NY
Albany’s Senior Living has released the music video for “Heathers,” the closing track off their 35mm EP that was released over the summer.
The video was shot and directed by Nadia Boye from SUNY Oneonta, and centers on water and the fluidity of nature, with a focus on the moods and emotions inspired by the ground beneath our feet and the world that we live in and are a part of each day.
Senior Living are planning shows for January around the Northeast and Southeast. More details to come.
Pop – punk group Sleeping With Sirens will set off on a 21 stop North American tour in 2020 to celebrate the release of their new album “How It Feels To Be Lost.” Joining “The Medicine Tour” starting in Lincoln, Nebraska on Jan. 8 will be alternative rockers Set It Off,Belmontand Point North. Along the way, they will make a stop at Upstate Concert Hall near Albany on Febr. 4 before ending the tour a few days later in their current residence of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
How It Feels To Be Lost is Sleeping With Sirens’ fifth full-length studio album since emerging onto the scene in 2010. Returning to a post-hardcore sound, the record features tracks like “Leave It All Behind,” “Break Me Down,” and “Agree To Disagree,” as well as the track appropriately titled “Medicine (Devil in My Head).” Recorded at the MDDN Studios in Los Angeles, the album was produced by Zakk Cervini and Matt Good.
The group’s daring ability to push the envelope in rock has pumped out music infused with different genres from pop, acoustic and some R&B. A loyal fan base known as “Strays” has helped them reach over 1.5 million in record sales, millions of streams and three gold singles. Tickets for “The Medicine Tour” go on sale Friday, Nov. 8, at the group’s website.
Sleeping With Sirens, Set It Off, Belmont + Point North 2020 Tour Dates
Jan. 8 – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NB Jan. 10 – The Forge – Chicago, IL Jan. 11 – Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN Jan. 12 – Granada Theatre – Lawrence, KS Jan. 14 – Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO Jan. 15 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT Jan. 17 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV Jan. 18 – Regency – San Francisco, CA Jan. 20 – Encore – Tucson, AZ Jan. 22 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX Jan. 23 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX Jan. 25 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA Jan. 26 – The Cowan – Nashville, TN Jan. 28 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA Jan. 30 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
Jan. 31 – Soundstage – Baltimore, MD Feb. 1 – Palladium – Worcester, MA Feb. 4 – Upstate Concert Hall – Albany, NY Feb. 5 – Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, Ontario Feb. 7 – The Crofoot – Detroit,MI Feb. 8 – The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
On Sunday, November 17, Everyone Orchestra, conducted by Matt Butler, will welcome a cadre of musicians for a performance at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY.
Butler will bring with him sacred steel guitarist Robert Randolph, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Claude Coleman Jr. (Ween), George Gekas (The Revivalists), Josh Schwartz and Chris Brouwers (Turkuaz), along with Asbury Park’s Remember Jones.
If you’ve never caught Everyone Orchestra, let alone a Sunday show at Garcia’s, this performance couldn’t be better timed.
The calendar may have turned to November but the Halloween spirit was strong in Buffalo with Turkuaz dressing up in celebration of our neighbors’ to the north national pastime, ice hockey! Sammi Garett and Shira Elias even dropped their gloves and staged a hockey fight that had to be broken up by referee Chris Brouwers to the delight of the packed crowd at the Town Ballroom.
Setlist: Nightswimming, Doktor Jazz, Make You Famous, Heat Drop, If I Ever Fall Asleep, E.Y.E., Mister Man, Digitonium, Big Business > Murder Face, Take ‘Em Down, Every1’s A Winner > Superstatic, Better Get Ready > Lookin’ Tough, Feelin’ Good, Gogo Mr. Dodo, The Shape I’m In Encore: Monkey Fingers
The annual Great Salt City Blues Concert makes its return to Syracuse on Friday, Dec. 27at 7:30 p.m. The event—being held at The Palace Theatre—is a yearly extravaganza that celebrates great blues artists. This year’s theme is to pay tribute to five legends of the genre, where current musicians will be honoring greats of the past. The honorees consist of, Albert Collins, Freddy King, Big Mama Thornton, Slim Harpo and Memphis Minnie.
The participating musicians include:
Austin John Doody, Mark Gibson, Tas Cru, Mike DeLaney, Bill Barry, Pete McMahon, Ross Moe, Jerry Neely, Mikal Serafim, Diana Jacobs, Curtis Waterman, Bob Purdy, Ron Spencer, Cathy LaManna, Dunham Hall, Jimmy Wolf, Jane Zell and Dawna Zahn.
Advance sale general admission tickets will be sold for $25 and can be purchased at Soundgarden in Armory Square & The Palace Commons, while tickets at the door on the night of the show will be $35.
Tickets for the Salt City Blues Concert can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets.
