NYS Music 20​19

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  • Phish Announces ReCurveball Festival

    In a surprise announcement from Phish, ReCurveball Festival will be held in Watkins Glen, NY this August 9-11, on the same grounds as Phish’s cancelled 2018 Curveball festival.

    “After last summer’s sudden cancellation of Curveball, we immediately made plans to get back to Watkins Glen. We found a guy who said he could take care of the water issue and you know what, we trust him,” said Trey Anastasio. “We owe it to the fans.”

    curveball
    “Water will not be an issue at ReCurveball” – Andy King

    With Woodstock 50 being held at Watkins Glen International the following weekend, Phish and Woodstock Ventures teamed up to ensure that both ReCurveball and Woodstock 50 go off without hitches. Operations director C. Wallob said of the plans, “Holding ReCurveball festival the weekend before ensures that we can not only prepared the grounds for the influx of thousands of fans the following weekend, but any issues that come up can be sorted out in advance. We really want to make ReCurveball a success, and hopefully Woodstock 50 can feed off our success at Watkins Glen. We certainly don’t want another Woodstock 99 to happen. If anyone is going to burn Watkins Glen to the ground, it’ll be Phish.

    “Plus,” Wallob added, “Phish fans will certainly leave it clean for Woodstock 50 attendees.”

    curveball
    photo via Phish.net

    Phish plans to reuse the silver ball for the special late-night set, and unsold merchandise from Curveball will be rebranded with new dates added. More information can be found at ReCurveball.com.

  • In Focus: Brooklyn Bowl Debut For The Allman Betts Band

    Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is. As the cold winter days wind down and the sun shines a little longer, new life is brought back into the dark places. There is no one who needs that more than the Allman Brothers family right now, after terrible loss almost halted everything. It looked like the end for many fans and this legendary music. That mantle of great live music tradition was left in limbo until The Allman Betts Band made their highly anticipated debut at Brooklyn Bowl.

    Devon Allman and Duane Betts have joined forces to create The Allman Betts Band, with Barry Oakley Jr. (Son of Original Allman Brothers Band Bassist), Johnny Stachela, percussionists R. Scott Bryan and John Lum, to feature new music, songs from their solo projects and classic Allman Brothers songs in honor of The Allman Brothers’ 50th anniversary.

    Wednesday night was the inaugural show for the band and fans of all ages came out in curiosity to see what this band was going to bring to the table. By the third song, when Duane played the opening notes to his father’s “Blue Sky,” it became very clear that this band would be a force to be reckoned with. Along with amazing renditions of “Dreams” and “In Memory OF Elzabeth Reed,” this band showed that it had more to offer for the Allman legacy. Original songs “All Night” and “Good Ol’ Days,” both are set to be on the bands debut album, that will be released early summer.

    Don’t miss this band. They are fantastic; Proof that their music is as thick, and rich, as blood.

    Setlist: All Night, Melodies are Memomries, Blue Sky, Left My Heart In Memphis, Taking Time, In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed, Multi Colored Lady, Seven Turns, Mahalo, Purple Rain, Dreams, Good Ol’ Days,

    Encore: Shake Down Street

  • This week in Woodstock History: Harvesting Land for ‘Art’ Festival

    In early 1969, Michael Lang made multiple trips to the mid-Hudson Valley to find a place for Woodstock Ventures to hold their festival. As Lang mentions in his 2009 book The Road to Woodstock, he contacted a real estate agent about renting the Winston Farm, but the price of $40,000 for 12 weeks was far beyond the budget for Woodstock Ventures. 

    Barefoot in Babylon by Bob Spitz offers more detail on this potential property. It was owned by a frankfurter magnate named Shaler, in the town of Saugerties. With trees lining the property, permanent buildings, drainage, plumbing, wells, electric power, and a convenient exit right off the New York State Thruway, all of Woodstock Ventures partners – Lang, Artie Kornfeld, Joel Rosenman and John Roberts – rented motorcycles and drove to Shaler’s property on March 29. Although there was an initial agreement to the terms – $40,000 for 12 weeks, plus posting bond for damages and returning the land to its original state – a meeting with Shaler’s lawyer which lasted less than half an hour was ‘abrupt and cataclysmic,’ with Shaler opting to not rent the land to anyone, leaving it for his sons.

    This week in Woodstock History

    At that time, word got out about the festival. A call from Woodstock town supervisor Bill Ward, as well as an official from the county health department, made it clear that they did not want an event of this size in the area. The county had a population of 140,000 in 1970, and the festival would end up selling 100,000 tickets on presale alone. Nearly 400,000 would attend the festival, which clogged roads in rural Sullivan County, but in Ulster County it surely would have overwhelmed public services and caused even more headaches, especially along I-87.

    So the search continued for a place to hold “An Aquarian Exposition: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair.” On March 30, 1969, Lang and his partners the came across an industrial park in the town of Wallkill, near Middletown. The developer was Howard Mills, interested in leasing the property to Woodstock Ventures before showing it to industries for further development. Discussing with Mills about the event, in terms of an ‘art fair,’ to appeal to the broader community, with the addition of “small concerts, featuring a few of the area’s finer musicians.” They had assumed Mills, a country farmer, would never got for a rock festival on his property. he was inclined to work with Woodstock Ventures, even if Lang and his partners had their reservations. But time was running short and they needed a venue; after much discussion, they warmed to the idea of holding their festival in Woodstock. A planning board meeting in mid-April would set the wheels in motion for everything that would come next.

  • Hearing Aide: Megg Farrell & Friends

    There are two types of people in this world: those who like country and those who don’t. It can sound hokey, melancholy and just plain sad. There’s no denying that Megg Farrell & Friends have touches of those iconic country groups, but please, give this a listen. It doesn’t fall close to preconceived notions of country.

    Now a lot of credit needs to go to the production of the album – it helps legitimize the group. In terms of theory, it’s obvious these guys are experts. They sound like they’ve been performing decades, even though they’ve just started to lift off the ground. Perhaps the most incredible thing about this album is how natural everything sounds, considering how many influences are being implemented here. Jazz, country, bluegrass and pop styles are peppered throughout the album.

    It’s an odd combination, but this is good time to be adventurous when it comes to restoring old genres. When groups like Mumford and Sons or The Lumineers first emerged, it was a heavy dose of folk, country, and bluegrass, driven by pop beats that came out of left field. When will it be time for more classical country to shine once again? (Not your bro country) Obviously, this type of music isn’t going to be selling out arenas anytime soon like the above mentioned artists, but it could pave a way for a new style of country. It’s a treacherous frontier, combing jazz, country, bluegrass and pop together but it’s absolutely sublime if done right.

    There are some truly traditional country acts on the album like “Feelin’ Single” and “Tulsa Queen,” which are direct Emmylou Harris covers. The only place Farrell & Friends explore a traditional country space is in “New York Love Song.” It’s everything listeners might expect in a country song – typical instrumentation, lovey-dovey lyrics and a beat which begs for a belt-buckle-grippin’ two step dance. A catchy chorus and an outstanding performance from Farrell. Her raspy, but sultry voice was molded in a variety of genres, fitting seamlessly into this group style. They continue into what is arguably more bluegrass than country with tracks like “New Orleans Waltz” and “Ohh Las Vegas.” Again, they’re undeniable masters of their craft. But as tight and well produced as it is, it’s just not everyones cup of tea.

    “Love Sick Harmony” is one of the best examples of how they have managed to seamlessly blend all of these genres together. Everything is smooth and listeners get a taste of each influence –  a slide guitar lick under verse, a classic “woo” filled chorus and washy, pop drum beat. It’s a real mutt of a song with its bluegrass, country, anti-folk and pop styles. Imagine Regina Spektor, but if she grew up in the deep south.  “Blues In The Womb” is without a doubt their showcase. Please find our detailed analysis of the song here.

    It’s a confusing collection of songs. They may fall back to their country roots in just about every song but there is unquestionably a LOT of experimentation going on. But it’s a 25 minute album – try something new today and do some experimentation of your own.

    This is a group that’s still finding their footing. And as per usual, money is always an issue when trying to get off the ground. Watch their video on how to support the group social and financially. There’s some pretty good incentives to throwing them a few bucks.  They will also be flying around NY for the next few months Brooklyn and Manhattan. Find their events on their Facebook page.

    Key Tracks: Love Sick Harmony, Blues in the Womb, New York Love Song

  • Listen to Episode 12 of Empire State Music Podcast featuring Justin Reckamp from Mungion

    Mungion singer and guitarist, Justin Reckamp, joins host Andy Hogan in conversation about the bands origins, life in the Chicago music scene, fall/winter tours, albums Scary Blankets (2016) and Ferris Wheels Day Off (2018). Listen on Simplecast or iTunes.

    justin reckamp

  • Hearing Aide: Bad Luck ‘Drug Phase’

    Bad Luck’s new EP, Drug Phase, is the perfect vessel for launching a comeback. Bad Luck. continues to tick all the right boxes: fast tempos, aggressive guitar work, pop-influenced melodies and clever lyrics. The solo-project-turned-band cranked out a couple promising releases in 2014 and 2015, then went quiet until last year, when they announced signing with Take This To Heart Records. Fortune seems to be favoring Bad Luck. as they enter this new phase of their career. Bad Luck. leads with “Impressive Depressive,” in which they channel some serious My Chemical Romance vibes with their dark lyrics and edgy riffs. The mood lightens up in the next track, “Mean Dudes.” The uptempo bubblegum-pop serves as a perfect contrast to lyrics, oozing with sarcasm and disdain. The title track “Drug Phrase” has more bite to it. The gritty, grungy song is a brutally honest reflection on a dark time: Used to say I’m okay/ I could try a bit/ Just for the hell of it. The EP switches gears again with “Sheep Song.” Even though the lyrics are about herd mentality and blindly following along, it’s a challenge not to sing along to the “ba ba ba ba” chorus. This is followed by “Wish We Still Talked.” Abrasive vocals belt out raw emotional lyrics riddled with regret. The layered vocals are reminiscent of Taking Back Sunday. Drug Phase ends with a track called “P.S. Wiffle Ball.” The jangly tune on acoustic guitar is accompanied by whistling and a sing-song melody. The simplicity of this track evokes nostalgia for youthful ignorance and bliss.
    The collection creates a story arc that follows the rise, fall and rebirth of the jaded-yet-relatable protagonist. But unlike most concept-based albums, each of the songs can stand on their own and still make sense. There’s no filler or transitional tracks. The music is compactly arranged – tight, well-paced and cohesive. All music and lyrics were written by vocalist/guitarist Dominick Fox. His brother Joseph Fox plays bass. The band is rounded out with Charlie Caruso on lead guitar and Michael Sichel on drums. Drug Phase was engineered, produced and mixed by Jim Wirt at Crushtone Studios, and mastered by John Naclerio at Nada Studios. Drug Phase is out now on Take This To Heart Records. Purchase merch and music directly or buy/stream on your favorite major music platforms. Bad Luck. celebrates the release with a four-date Northeast tour that started in Boston last night, and hits Albany today, Brooklyn on March 30 and Philly on March 31. They’re also slated to play BLED FEST in May. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates. Key Tracks: Impressive Depressive, Sheep Song, Wish We Still Talked

  • In Focus: The Mighty O.A.R.

    For two decades O.A.R. has continuously shown why they are one of the top acts in music. From sold out shows in some of the most famous venues across the country to multiple chart toping hits, and millions of albums sold worldwide. With the release of their ninth album The Mighty O.A.R. the band has embodied what it means to be mighty.

    The Mighty O.A.R.

    A few days before the albums release date the band invited a small amount of media and fans to Sony Square in New York City for a performance of some of the new material and a short Q&A. The state of the art Sony space worked with the band to set up something that replicated what happened in the studio, lead singer Marc Roberge Said “The reason why we did this was because we wanted you all to see this, this is kinda what we do everyone has their job their world we sit in rooms like this and create something from nothing.” They played two tracks off the new album “Miss You All The Time” and “California” in an acoustic round setting showing the amazing bond twenty years can bring between artists.  

    The new album is out today, Friday March 29, and brings a whole new approach to making a record than what fans and the band are used to hearing. Up until now O.A.R. has made records the same way just about everyone else makes records, run and gun. You work and record straight through until the album is complete, but for their first album in five years the band wanted to try something new and perfect the craft. O.A.R. changed the way they wrote and adopted the motto “is it aging well” does that song sit well with the band day’s, weeks later. This album is deep and meaningful with inspiring lyrics that just make you feel good.

    O.A.R will hit the road this summer in support of this album be sure to check them out, and see for your self the power of The Mighty O.A.R.

  • It’s the Elite 8 of NYS Music’s March Madness – Vote Now!

    We’ve made it to the 4th Round of NYS Music’s March Madness, featuring 8 elite artists who call New York home or got their start in the Empire State, as voted on by our readers. We have 8 incredible artists to consider to determine who is the greatest musician to come out of New York State in the past century.

    elite 8 NYS

    In the Buffalo Iron Works region, will it be Paul Simon (Forest Hills) or Blue Oyster Cult (Stony Brook)? In the Anthology region who is a more historic band, Aqueous (Buffalo) or Talking Heads (NYC)?

    Who wins the crown in the TIP the Band region – Billy Joel (Hicksville) or Beastie Boys (NYC)? And in the Funk n Waffles region, moe. (Buffalo/Albany) or Lou Reed (Brooklyn)?

    Vote below through Sunday night at midnight, and cast your vote on Twitter as well!

  • Lineup Announced For Tulip Fest 2019

    Albany’s signature spring event, the Tulip Festival, is set to take place in Washington Park on Mother’s Day Weekend, May 11 and 12, 2019.  The 71st annual festival aims to celebrate the Dutch Heritage of the region as well as provide the opportunity for artisans to sell handmade crafts, the park to showcase more than 140,000 tulips in 150 varieties, and musicians to entertain large crowds with world-class live entertainment. Additionally, KIDZONE is available to entertain the whole family.

    The live performances on the 518 Stage begin on Saturday, May 11,  following the Tulip Queen Coronation at 12 p.m. The first performance is by Hasty Page at 1 p.m. The young members of this group embody an exciting new sound full of inspiration, while creative lyricism paints a theatrical image for their original music. Next up is CK & The Rising Tide at 2 p.m. This alternative/country/folk rock band chooses to record in the solitude of an upstate log cabin. Their songs are rooted in folk-rock, oftentimes exploring the indie/country rock side of things. At 3:30 p.m., alt-rock, folk, pop singer Sydney Worthley takes the stage. This young singer/songwriter debuted her album, Strong, as a 14 song blend of strength, courage, and perseverance. Capping off the day is Wild Planes at 4:45 p.m.This rock/pop trio is labeled as a “wild” group with unmatched energy and immense personality.

    Sunday, May 12, kicks off with the 21st Annual Mother of the Year Award at 12 p.m. This award seeks to recognize the Capital Region’s most outstanding moms. Following this touching tradition, Mike Grutka, an acoustic based singer/songwriter will perform at 1 p.m. His ability to blend funky-modern-roots with rock has established his name on more than 400 radio stations between the U.S. and Canada. Honey Slider comes next at 2:15 p.m. This folk rock/pop duo based in Albany has roots in musical theater. This background shines through in their classic rock and folk influences, mainly during live performances. Following Honey Slider is Bird Streets at 3:30 p.m. An array of introspective indie rock and power pop draws on music of the decades’ past without promoting an overly nostalgic vibe. The music is credited as being “both fresh and familiar.” Last but not least will be a performance by Lets Be Leonard at 4:45 p.m. This group of rockers is fresh out of Saratoga Springs and well-known for putting on an exciting show.

    KIDZONE, is open both Saturday and Sunday. Pony rides, rock climbing, inflatables, face painting, music, and games will all be available to enjoy. Furthermore, the KIDZONE stage will be filled with performances. On Saturday and Sunday, Park Playhouse will be putting on two shows, at 12:15 p.m. and 2 p.m. This beloved theater group will be offering sneak peeks of their upcoming musical productions! At 1 p.m. on Sunday, Artpartners, a -community-based dance training program, will be presenting a performance bridging classic music and modern styles. Melvin the Magnificent, a professional magician, will be wowing the crowd with his action packed, interactive tricks at both 1:45 and 4 p.m. Next, Andy “The Music Man” Morse will be performing his well-versed children’s music at 2:45 and 4:45 p.m. This includes sing-a-longs, dancing, storytelling, and play-acting. Closing the show is Ruth Pelham. At 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., Ruth will be promoting her mission to build peace within communities through her original songs spanning all age groups.

    The Main Stage on Saturdaybegins with El Modernist at 1:30 p.m.This band dives into a new take on Indie-rock, showcasing fantastic hooks and melodies that embody psychedelia. Overall, the group gives off a very catchy garage-rock sound with a taste of modern alternative hip-hop. Next to take the stage is the Greeting Committee at 3 p.m.This Kansas City-based band gives originality that feels as intimate as a basement recording, but surprises you with intricate textures and sophisticated melodies. 4:30 p.m. kicks off KONGOS performance. This four-brother rock band popped up on the map with their song Come With Me Now, popular all around the world. This track went RIAA double-platinum for sales in excess of 2 million, and occupied the number one spot on alternative radio for five weeks, historically marking the quickest rise to the top by a new band.

    Sunday starts with Girl Blue at 1:30 p.m. Known for her powerful vocals, viewers can expect for the room to be silenced by her and her guitar alone. In collaboration with Just Pretend Records, she tours regularly and records her own music. At 3 p.m. is Moriah Formica, a top 20 contestant on Season 13 of The Voice. The coaches had this to say: “So much talent, it’s almost unfair to the rest of the world. You are a born rockstar” (Blake Shelton).” Marshall Charloff & The Purple Xperience are finishing off the weekend at 4:30 p.m. This five-person group from Minneapolis, MN has been bringing authentic productions of Prince and The Revolution on tour with them. Band leader Marshall Charloff recorded with Prince on the album 94 East, where Marshall plays both, keyboards and bass guitar and Prince is on lead vocals.

    Additionally, a free CDTA shuttle runs to Washington Park from three designated locations:

    • Elk Street Parking Lot: Located behind the State Education Building – the pick-up location will be Elk and Hawk at the stop sign.
    • Eagle Street Parking Lot: Located at the corner of Eagle Street and Madison Avenue.
    • Albany Medical Center Parking Lot: Located off Robin Street, for customers needing extra assistance or in a wheelchair. This particular shuttle will drop passengers off at the Madison Avenue/New Scotland entrance to the park.

    Shuttles will run every 20 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. All parking lots are free to use the weekend of Tulip Festival.

  • Woodstock Co-Creator Michael Lang Addresses Opposition to Modern Lineup

    In a recent interview with TMZ, Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang spoke about some of the backlash received over the announcement of the lineup for this summer’s Woodstock 50 festival taking place in August at Watkins Glen International Speedway.

    The festival is marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts festival held in Bethel, NY which Lang co-created along with Artie Kornfeld and others at Woodstock Ventures.

    The announcement of the lineup of the 50th anniversary festival came with some dissent from Woodstock 1969 “purists” who saw names like Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, and Chance the Rapper in the lineup. When asked, Lang told TMZ that he “wanted to make it a contemporary show for the audience we are expecting (which is young), and make it a show that touches all genres…This is a contemporary Woodstock for today.”

    Each of the three days of Woodstock 50 includes several of the original 1969 performers and nods to those original acts including Dead and Company (of Grateful Dead fame), Carlos Santana, John Fogerty (Creedance Clearwater Revival), John Sebastian, Melanie, Amy Helm (daughter of Levon Helm from The Band), David Crosby (of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young), Canned Heat, and Hot Tuna.

    woodstock co-creator Michael Lang

    Back in November 2018 at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, in which Melanie and Woodstock co-creators Lang and Kornfeld were inducted, Lang skirted around discussing details about the who, when, and where of a 50th anniversary event as plans were in progress at the time. However, Melanie wasn’t shy about suggesting her interest in being part of a reunion or anniversary event during a recollection of her part in the 1969 festival.

    Melanie sharing some stories and laughs at the November 2018 Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony

    Woodstock 50 is happening at Watkins Glen August 16 – 18; visit woodstock.com for full lineup and more information.