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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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 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 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.
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 BuscarelloThe 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.
Aqueous and Lespecial kicked off their Fall Tour on Thursday, October 24 in Syracuse at the Westcott Theater, playing to a full house with two sets stuffed with prog-rock and jammy goodness.
Check out a gallery of the night below, and don’t miss the Aqueous and Lespecial when they perform at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs on Saturday.
Lespecial setlist: Snell’s Fleet, Fruit Wolf Dance, Jackwise, Onlookers, The Vessel, Machine Elf, Tonberry*, T Mobil *first time played
Aqueous setlist: Set One: What’s the Connection?1, How High You Fly, Be the Same, Numbers and Facts2, Dammit, Eon Don2 > Timmy’s Blades > Pseudo Suicide3 > Eon Don
Set Two: Dave’s Song4 > Skyway5, Jealous, Complex Pt. I2 > Wandering2 6 > Complex Pt. II
Encore: Origami7
NOTES: 1 Rebel Rebel (David Bowie) teases 2 New arrangement 3 I’ll Be There For You (Rembrandt’s) tease 4 Let’s Go Buffalo quote 5 Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix) teases 6 BUSTOUT: LTP 2018/4/21 (111 shows) 7 Rastaman Chant (Bob Marley) teases
Sweden’s enigmatic hard rock band, Ghost, and Texas based, Nothing More brought The Ultimate Tour Named Death to The Oncenter War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, NY as part of their North American Tour.
Nothing More always puts on a fantastic show whether you’ve seen them once or ten times. Every performance is extremely high energy that seems like organized chaos, and this event proved no different. Frontman Jonny Hawkins took to the stage in his hoodie and began scaling up the iconic Scorpion Tale. With deep red stage lighting the remaining band members took to the stage before opening up with the explosive track “Let ’em Burn.”
While only having a nine-song set, Nothing More played some of their major heavy hitters. “Don’t Stop,” “Go To War” and “This Is The Time” were all performed with an incredible amount of energy alongside more emotive numbers like “Jenny,” which is a song about Hawkins sister and the struggle with addiction. “Fade In/Fade Out,” one of Nothing More’s most powerful songs was performed beautifully, which had many members of the audience tearing up.
Highlights from their set was a cover of the Skrillex track “Equinox,” mashed up with Queen’s “We Will Rock You” making for a pleasantly surprising and epic performance. Jonny Hawkins went absolutely nuts rocking back and forth on top of the Scorpion Tale drenched in sweat.
Ending their set with “Burn The Witch,” was the most memorable part of their performance, having all members of the band play an epic drum solo in sync together. Hawkins went absolutely nuts again on the drums, which was the perfect finish for Nothing More’s performance.
Nothing More set list: Let ’em Burn, Don’t Stop, Go To War, Jenny, Fadein/Fadeout, Ocean Floor, This Is The Time (Ballast), First Of The Year ‘Equinox (Skrillex)<We Will Rock You (Queen),’ Salem (Burn The Witch).
A Ghost show is kind of like a satanic mass. They started the set with a large black curtain draped in front of the stage while church hymns played. It made you feel like you at a traditional Sunday Mass. That was until the curtain dropped and the bands beautifully designed cathedral set was displayed. White stairs leading up to the drummer and keyboardist were positioned, with a large backdrop of stained glass cathedral style windows with pictures of different era “Papas” displayed.
As the introduction, “Ashes” began to play the Nameless Ghouls took place on-stage dressed in form fitting black outfits and silver masks as the music transitioned to the beginning of “Rats.” Cardinal Copia made his entrance dressed in his crimson suit.
Cardinal Copia is one of the most charismatic frontmen in the rock/metal genre, and this was on full display in Syracuse. Six of the 20 songs performed were from the bands latest album, Prequelle, including the singles, “Faith” and “Dance Macabre.” Seven songs were performed from the band’s 2015 album, Meliora. Among those were the hits: “From The Pinnacle To The Pit,” “Cirice,” “Devil Church,” the Grammy winning track “He Is,” and the ‘super heavy, heaviest song we have‘ according to Cardinal Copia, “Mummy Dust.”
Ghost recently released a two track EP, Seven Inches of Satanic Panic – and performed both tracks “Kiss the Go-Goat” and “Mary on a Cross.”
From a guest appearance by Papa Nihil on the Saxophone for “Miasma,” to Cardinal Copia riding out a tricycle, the show was filled with dry humor and jokes that flowed so well with the bands performance. Watching Ghost perform is almost like watching a musical.
Ending the night with “Square Hammer,” Ghost proved once again why they are one of the fastest rising hard rock bands in the world. The stage presence and interactions with the crowd connect on a personal level regardless if they’re playing in a small theater or a massive arena. Ghost is able to combine their stage lighting, fog machines, and the band’s incredible synergy for one fantastic show.
Ghost Set list: Ashes, Rats, Absolution, Faith, Mary on a Cross, Devil Church, Cirice, Miasma, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, Helvetesfönster, Spirit, From the Pinnacle to the Pit, Ritual, Satan Prayer, Year Zero, Spöksonat, He Is, Mummy Dust, Kiss the Go-Goat, Dance Macabre, Square Hammer.
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.
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.
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.
Phish will perform an exclusive concert for listeners of their SiriusXM channel, Phish Radio, on Tuesday, December 3 at The Met in Philadelphia, PA.
SiriusXM subscribers will have a number of opportunities to win a pair of tickets to this show, including on-air on Phish Radio, online at SiriusXM.com/Phish (see official rules for complete details), via e-mail invitation sent to qualified subscribers who have opted in to receiving email from SiriusXM and who have registered their music interests at SiriusXM.com/perks.
The Met show marks the smallest venue Phish has played in nearly 20 years and will be broadcast live on Phish Radio.
Keller Williams is in the midst of a huge tour that’s stopping in for two upcoming Upstate NY performances in Albany at Skyloft on October 24 and in Syracuse at Westcott Theater on October 25. Keller has been touring extensively this year in support of the release of his latest album, Add. NYS Music was lucky enough to catch Keller Williams for a brief interview during his busy tour schedule. He was very down to earth and easy to talk to. We quickly digressed from talking about his tour to talking about his favorite shows at Red Rocks and Phish at Lockn‘.
Williams’ upcoming record, SPEED, features his bluegrass outfit Keller & The Keels (Williams on vocals, along with progressive flatpicker Larry Keel and bassist Jenny Keel) as they reinterpret popular songs in their trademark psychedelic Appalachian bluegrass style. Some of the covers heard on SPEED include Fiona Apple’s “Criminal,” Kacey Musgraves’ “Slow Burn,” Weezer’s “Island In The Sun,” and many more. SPEED is the trio’s third collaboration together, following their 2006 release Grass and 2012’s all-covers album Thief.
When asked about where the name for the new record came form he said, “The inspiration was an excuse to hang out with my friends, the Keels”.
Melting with Larry Keel at Floydfest 2016
Keller’s got so many projects going on like Grateful Grass, Grateful Gospel, Keller & The Keels, it’s hard to keep up! That guy stays on the move. Yet he manages to be on the road for three and a half days and home for three and a half days. Very balanced. Jokingly, Keller says it only took him thirty years to develop an ideal schedule.
Keller will be playing a two-day NYE run in St. Louis at the Old Rock House. On the first night, Keller will play with The Keels, and the second night with Grateful Grass. Lots of surprises are in store, but Keller likes to keep ’em that way. You know, surprising! He is also very excited to play in the psychedelic labyrinth known as Meow Wolf.
On favorite places to play: “Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado…it’s very historic and there’s a certain amount of honor. A certain amount of history that went down there. As a music fan, I just love it. But there’s so many other places that are as epic or as historic as Red Rocks that I love playing. Any given night, any given gig, could possibly be my favorite place to play ever”.
“It’s like the best camera you have is the one you have in your hand,” I said.
“It’s like there’s two types of weed. Some and none,” Keller replied as I burst into laughter.
Yay Keller! At Lockn’ 2019
Keller is a staple of the jam community, a part of the Dead scene, and a “phan.” His music is so easily accessible to the ones around him because he is one of them. He is a Deadhead playing to Deadheads. They breathe the same air, and drink the same Kool-Aid. Keller gets it. He makes it look easy and fun, just like a good show should feel. When he plays five sets at a festival, which isn’t rare for Keller, plan to dance at all five.
All smiles. Keller at Lockn’ 2018
So we digress and start to dig into show stories from Keller’s vault…
On Red Rocks concerts that stood out and Phish: “In 1990, I started seeing Phish. In the early ’90s they started to go into arenas kind of early. And I was used to pushing my car to the Grateful Dead show ’cause the line to get in would take hours. And I would always be in these old cars that would overheat, so you had to push them in…
So I started going to Phish shows, it was probably right after Jerry died. Probably like ’96 or ’97, the run of three Phish shows at Red Rocks. I remember those being super intense.”
When a contract issue arose while Keller was in Boulder, Colorado, he checked out Odesza at Red Rocks. “I used some connections to get me and a couple of friends in. I remember standing on the top, towards the back, where you can see the stage, and hear just beautifully, and you can see the whole skyline of Denver. And I remember elevating, I think I elevated, I elevated, I rose up higher than where I was standing. It was real, it happened.”
When asked about his favorite festival, he narrowed it down to just festivals in his home state of Virginia. “Floydfest: one of the very few festivals I can go with my family. Lockn’, I go and hang out there, me and my wife go. But we don’t take our kids there.”
Keller at Floydfest 2016
His two favorite festivals are right in his home state of Virginia, both at which he makes an annual appearance. “The Blue Ridge Parkway is really popping now with color,” Keller stated as we drooled over the beauty of that mountainous state.
At Floydfest 2016, Keller was seen on stage more than anyone else. They even put him in charge of what is now an annual super jam of epic proportions. “Greg Allman had cancelled, and we put that set together. It’s become a staple at that festival every year since, with me in charge.”
With The T Sisters at Floydfest 2016, filling in for Greg Allman
If he had to be stranded on an abandoned island with one musician, Keller would like no one else to spend his time with than his already good friend and band member, Larry Keel. According to Keller, he’s also a master fisher.
Keller is just so relatable and down to earth, it’s hard to not gravitate towards him. One time at Floydfest I asked a stranger for a lighter only to realize it was Keller who I was asking, another time I ran into him at a festival in Tennessee, and we were both sweaty guys with vapes at Lockn’ in the media tent.
Keller sitting in with Twiddle at Lockn’ 2016
On the hot, hot 2016 Lock’n music festival,”
On the hot, hot 2016 Lockn’ music festival: “That was a really interesting year. There was a couple years, they’d plug in my motor home right behind stage. The year that Phish was there…you know when they come to a festival they create their own fenced in zone. It’s not just like, here’s your trailer, Phish. No, they have their own fenced in area. That extended out the fence between the public and the festival. So I could go to the fence and be in front of the speakers and in front of the screen.
And I saw so many shows sitting in a folding chair, sitting by the fence, looking up. And it was just loud as hell! And it was so hot that year we had to take naps in the day ’cause we’d been up all night, and our motor home would become a subwoofer. And would just vibrate. Yeah, that was a fun year, I remember that year very well.”
Keller Williams Grateful Gospel at Lockn’ Festival 2019
Keller is an incredibly hard working and inspiring musician who seems like he never stops, hence the new album SPEED. This man cannot be stopped. But seriously, Keller is a true staple of the jam community, the scene if you will, and it was an absolute honor to wrack his brain about his music and his relationship with the music we love.
Buffalo-based band Aqueous makes the first stop on their extensive fall tour tonight in Syracuse at the Westcott Theater. Comprised of Mike Gantzer (guitar/vocals), Dave Loss (guitar/keys/vocals), Evan McPhaden (bass) and Rob Houk (drums), Aqueous is known for their heavy improvisation and their “near psychic” level of on-stage chemistry. As a band, they are always exploring musically, and there is bound to be some exciting surprises for fans throughout the course of the tour. The band is eager to get back on the road and reconnect with fans after an extremely successful festival season this summer, which included appearances at Peach Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival and Cobblestone Live.
“You can’t beat the intimacy and connection with the crowd during headlining AQ shows at clubs, and we’ve got some big plans for this tour.”
Mike Gantzer
Highlights for the upcoming tour include a special “Hero’s Halloween” themed night in Pittsburgh which will also feature a collaboration with Pittsburgh’s own pop/funk horn section, Steeltown Horns. There will be VIP “King For A Day” packages for dates in Chicago and Denver. VIP Packages include early entry to the venue, photo opportunity with the band, a download of the show’s soundboard and limited edition VIP merchandise. Additionally, Aqueous will be making their debut at the famed Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY with their Vermont-based frends Twiddle. The tour will close out with a hometown two-night run at the Town Ballroom for New Year’s Eve with Buffalo based band Witty Tarbox.
New York and Connecticut-based trio lespecial will be joining Aqueous for a few dates on the tour. Lespecial seamlessly fuses a myriad of genres, veering from hip-hop to metal, prog to house, pensive indie-rock to apocalyptic dub.
See the full list of tour dates below, and visit the band’s website for ticket information.
10/24 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater *
10/26 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Place *
10/30 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live *
10/31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater *
11/1 – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10 *
11/2 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall *
11/3 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Bunker *
11/6 – Raleigh, NC – Pour House *
11/7 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 *
11/8 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall *
11/9 – Nashville, TN – Exit / In *
11/10 – Louisville, KY – Gravely Brewing Co. *
11/13 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig *
11/14 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi
11/15 – Grand Rapids, MI – Stache @ Intersection
11/16 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall $
11/17 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
11/19 – Saint Paul, MN – Turf Club
11/20 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
11/22 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre $
11/23 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Old Town Pub
12/6 – Covington, KY – Madison Live
12/7 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands
12/30 & 12/31 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
* w/ Lespecial
$ notes dates w/ “King For A Day” VIP Experience Option
