NYS Music 202​0

Author: Pete Mason

  • Discover Local Music With EQXposure Featured Artists Of The Week

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to a ever-expanding listening audience. Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm on 102.7 FM, you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. NYS Music will bring you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    WEQX eqxposure joe mansman

    Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear music from Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band, Underwater Cartographers, New Saviors, Grape Juice!, Ida Mae Specker and many more! Get a preview of these artists below.

    Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band – “Blood on the Scales”

    These guys rock, plain and simple. Hailing from Glens Falls and have most recently released Fear In The Valley: Live From The Den, a collection of live acoustic songs recorded during quarantine. Joe Mansman says of the recording process which took place in an old boat garage:

    There was at least some comfort sitting in that moldy and dusty room with people you love, because it felt more normal than what was going on outside of it. We took our acoustic guitars, and just hit the record button most nights, letting it take us wherever. That felt normal. To me, this record will forever serve as a time capsule that’ll remind me of how we found a little bit of comfort in a strange and uncertain moment in the world’s history.

    Joe Mansman

    Underwater Cartographers – “Wave Goodbye and Watch it Go”

    Albany’s Joe Pasinella is staying busy as always. Look up Underwater Cartographers on Bandcamp to see what I mean. It’s crazy how many songs this dude cranks out. He sends me new music constantly and it’s always interesting both lyrically and musically, all done for fun recording on Garage Band. Just like you, or maybe not depending on your situation, he works a standard job. I have no idea what that job is but he makes music like it’s his job. This is from the new Album Benign Fascinations.

    New Saviors – “Pieces”

    Ryan, host of EQXposure, shares insight on the newest from New Saviors.

    Zack King’s latest project New Saviors are based out of Southern Vermont and Upstate New York. Zack plays guitar and takes on many other roles within the group. I’ve known him for well over a decade and have always known him to be in a band of some kind, even experimenting with rap as King Daddy Deucey (KDD) for a period of time. He’s a hustler for sure. When KDD merch was for sale you could see the t-shirts all over Bennington before Zack had even released any music under the name. I myself had at least three shirts, a hoodie, and a hat. That’s the thing about Zack. He’s just got the drive, talent, and personality to move any project forward.

    Grape Juice! – “Strawberry Pie“

    From Saratoga Springs, Grape Juice! is Hunter Fish (lead vocals, guitar, ukulele), Jesse Zuccaro (bass), and Michael Smith (drums, vocals). The three met in a creative writing class at SUNY Adirondack in 2017 and started the band at the beginning of 2018. “Strawberry Pie” was one of the first original songs they ever played and wrote together, and has been a favorite of their’s ever since. They recorded and mixed it all by themselves in their bass player’s basement, and if you listen closely, you can hear that it features his mom walking around upstairs toward the end of the song. They released our debut EP Outer Spvce EP on July 10, and are constantly writing, recording, and practicing. It shouldn’t be long before they have more music and start building their audience in the region.

    Ida Mae Specker – Billy In The Heartland

    Ida Mae Specker lives in Dorset, Vermont, having growing up in Andover, Vermont, where she began playing fiddle and singing in her family band, The Speckers. In addition to singing and fiddling, she’s also played drums and guitar in folk and indie rock bands. Her new EP Billy in the Heartland was recorded last year at Owl Sounds Recording and was the first time she recorded her original songs. The EP was to be followed up with some shows with the bands Upstate and Saints and Liars but the shows were unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19. Her web designer, photographer, and agent are all local VT women and you can see their work at on her website.

  • Albany Events Video Podcast brings together a Who’s Who of the Capital Region music scene

    Things have been interesting the past few months, between online streaming and socially distanced live shows being the only methods to get your live music fix. We’re hopeful that things will continue to improve in New York State and surrounding areas so we can get back to having the best live music offerings in the country.

    To get an idea of where things are at in the Capital Region, catch up with a Who’s Who of the Albany music scene thanks to Albany Events Video Podcast series. You’ll find interviews and insight from Frankie Cavone at Mirth Films, Luke Malamood from Hartley’s Encore, Art Fredette of RadioRadioX, the team at The Spot 518, and staff from the Albany Events team. Between the 16 (and counting) episodes, you’ll get an idea of what the past few months have been like for musicians, videographers, publishers, photographers, event planners and more!

  • Alan Evans’ new project, Crushed Velvet and the Velveteers, drop video for “As Far As We Know”

    Soulive’s Alan Evans and his label, Vintage League Music, have released “As Far As We Know,” an uplifting soul ballad by Crushed Velvet and the Velveteers. Featuring an illustrious group of collaborators—including the BT ALC Big Band, Brother GoodLove and more – this project of Evans’ will showcase the multi-instrumentalist’s guitar skills.

    At a time where the world might seem bleak and divided, Crushed Velvet and the Velveteers are here with a gentle track that carries a unifying message of peace, singing, 

    As far as we know / We ain’t too different / You and I could spend all our time / Make this world a better ride / Imagine the difference if we try.

    Evans says of the collaborative project:

    “I originally wrote the music for ‘As Far As We Know’ back in May 2019 with another VLM project in mind. I knew that I wanted to have Stephane (Brother GoodLove) singing on this song from the beginning. I didn’t realize that Stephane would turn that working title into such beautiful and powerful lyrics—I was really blown away when he sent me the first demo of the vocal and couldn’t wait to get it into full production but for whatever reason, it wasn’t the right time. But once I had the idea for the new Crushed Velvet and the Velveteers album, ‘As Far As You Know’ being included was a no brainer. So during quarantine, Stephane cut the vocals and I called on my Vintage League Music family of musicians to fill out the song and the rest is history. Without a doubt, it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.”

    Alan Evans

    Stephane Detchou, who performs under the moniker Brother GoodLove, was born in Montreal to Cameroonian parents and has been surrounded by music his entire life. Genres like folk, jazz, soul, rock and reggae were central in his upbringing and would come to influence the music he would later produce. It is within soul where he explores his identity and sense of self, reflects on the world and contributes to a future he believes in—and “As Far As We Know” is no exception, a song in which he penned the lyrics for.

    Crushed Velvet and the Velveteers

    In addition to Brother GoodLove, “As Far As We Know” also features Darby Wolf on piano, Alex Lee-Clark and Brian Thomas of BT ALC Big Band on the horns, Ryan Hommel on acoustic baritone guitar, and Cynthia Tolson on the strings.

    The official music video for “As Far As We Know,” directed by Samuel Hall, sees Brother GoodLove travel around Washington, D.C. while pondering the profound message of his lyrics, including footage captured during the current Black Lives Matters protests in the area.

  • Freaks Action Network announces “FAN Musicians Relief Fund” to benefit NYC-based professional musicians

    The Freaks Action Network (FAN) has announced the launch of the FAN Musicians Relief Fund, which will administer one-time grants to New York City-based professional working musicians whose livelihoods have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the fund’s initial 25 recipients, $10,000 has been earmarked by FAN for one-time grants of $400 each. 

    To celebrate the launch of this endeavor and help support fundraising efforts, Karina Rykman will kick things off with a special “Freaks Night In” online performance on Thursday, July 16, 2020. FAN is dedicating it’s efforts for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic to raising additional funds to assist as many musicians as possible during these difficult times. 

    freaks action network

    “FAN is all about turning the positive energy of live music into positive change in the world,” said FAN president Aaron Stein. “The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down and now it’s the live music world that needs help and that’s why we created this fund.” 

    FAN was formed just over three years ago as a way for New York City-metro music-lovers to give back to the community that has given them so much joy and happiness. When the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic ground the formerly thriving NYC live music scene to a screeching halt, the FAN Board of Directors immediately came together to try to figure out how they could help area-based musicians. Out of these discussions, the FAN Musicians Relief Fund was born. 

    Interested musicians who are residents of NYC and derive at least 50% of their income by performing live music in 2019 should visit the FAN website to apply for the one-time grant and learn about the full application process. Applications for the first phase are being accepted starting July 17. If you have questions about the fund, including potential partners and sponsors, reach out to musicrelief@freaksactionnetwork.org.

    Freaks Action Network finds their roots in a group of like-minded New York City live music aficionados, NYC Freaks, who share their love of live music with a growing community. At first, the NYC Freaks would rally around annual anniversary concerts featuring their favorite bands. As they swelled to a group that is now 850 members strong, they discovered a desire to give back to the community that had provided it with so much joy. Through FAN, NYC Freaks have raised tens of thousands of dollars through concerts, auctions, and its sister organization, the #LiveMusicChallenge.

  • Aqueous and Buffalo Iron Works announce two nights at Silver Lake Twin Drive-In

    On the heels of a successful Live at the Drive in Lockport this past June, Aqueous and Buffalo Iron Works have announced two evenings of live performances at Silver Lake Twin Drive In in Perry, NY. The shows on August 7 & 8 will feature a socially distanced set up for cars, providing respite for live music fans in Western New York.

    aqueous drive in

    Gates will open at 3:30 each day and Aqueous will be live, on stage, in front of screen one at 4:30. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, July 16th at 10am. Ticketing details are as follows: 

    General Admission Car Passes: 2 Car Pass: $80, 3 Car Pass: $120, 4 Car Pass: $160, 5 Car Pass: $200, 6 Car Pass: $240.

    VIP Admission Car Passes – Included Ticket to Show and Limited Edition Poster: 2 Car Pass: $160, 3 Car Pass: $240, 4 Car Pass: $320, 5 Car Pass: $400, 6 Car Pass: $480. 

    aqueous drive in
    From the successful Live at the Drive held in Lockport this past June

    Each “Car Pass” ticket is priced for a vehicle with the stated number occupants. All ticket purchases will be internet pre-sale only until the day of the event. If your vehicle has extra seats available, you are allowed to bring additional people to fill the vehicle and they can pay for their individual ticket at the gate on the day of the show. Extra people cannot exceed the car’s capacity and security will be ensuring this at the door. Please be respectful for the benefit of all parties. 

    All parking is designated by Drive-In Security. VIP parking will be in the first 2 rows of the Drive-In theatre. General Admission vehicle parking will be on a first-come-first-park basis behind the first 2 rows. To help with the obstruction of guests’ view, vans, trucks, and SUVs will be asked to park on one side of the snack bar or in the last three rows of the theater.

    To comply with social distancing guidelines, all vehicles must park at least 6 feet away from neighboring vehicles. Once parked, do not move your vehicle. If you choose to leave in your vehicle, you will not be permitted to re-enter the theatre. Management has final authority over where you may park. 

    Patrons are asked to remain in or near their vehicles except for trips to the bathroom, snack bar (limited to 10 people a time), Charcoal Corral restaurant, dog walks and smoking in designated areas. All guests must wear face masks whenever they are in a public area within 6 feet of other guests until further notice. 

    Perry, NY is located about 1 hour ESE of Buffalo and 1 hour SW of Rochester. Silver Lake Twin Drive-In is located at 7037 Chapman Ave in Perry, and produces weekend film features on two outdoor screens with a casual restaurant, mini-golf & more on-site. 

    Aqueous recently released a stream of Live at the Drive in its entirety on their Facebook page. Watch below for a taste of socially distanced live concerts at its best.

  • It seems Trey Anastasio is at Phish’s Barn Studio

    Today was unlike past pandemic-era Mondays for Phish fans, who were teased with a video of guitarist Trey Anastasio from what appears to be Phish’s Barn Studio in Vermont.

    The video, shared via Jambase, was taken by Trey’s daughter Eliza Anastasio and posted to her Instagram stories.

    Fittingly, Eliza used the original music of “2001” (née “Also Sprach Zarathrusta”) to demonstrate her dad’s new gear on stage.

    Could Phish have something in store of fans in terms of a live stream from The Barn? Given the Dinner and a Movie series each Tuesday night, it’s possible that live performances are on tap, akin to Goose‘s successful Bingo Tour.

  • Martin Scorcese to direct documentary on David Johansen of New York Dolls

    Oscar winning film director Martin Scorcese has announced plans for a documentary on David Johansen of New York Dolls fame. The film will explore Johansen’s teen years growing up in Greenwich Village, his alter ego Buster Poindexter, feature footage of Johansen’s recent performances at New York’s Café Carlyle.

    To be released on Showtime, the Queens-born/Little Italy-raised Scorcese will co-direct the film with David Tedeschi, who has previously worked with Scorcese on music documentaries No Direction Home and Shine a Light.

    The film plans to take an intimate biographical look at Johansen, looking at his upbringing on Staten Island and later his arrival in New York’s East Village in the late Sixties. While known best as lead singer of the New York Dolls, the documentary will also explore his time in the 80s as alter-ego Buster Poindexter and later the Harry Smiths.

    “I’ve known David Johansen for decades, and his music has been a touchstone ever since I listened to the Dolls when I was making Mean Streets. Then and now, David’s music captures the energy and excitement of New York City. I often see him perform, and over the years I’ve gotten to know the depth of his musical inspirations. After seeing his show last year at the Café Carlyle, I knew I had to film it because it was so extraordinary to see the evolution of his life and his musical talent in such an intimate setting. For me, the show captured the true emotional potential of a live musical experience.”

    Martin Scorcese

  • Flashback: Phish perform “Julius” on the Late Show with David Letterman

    On July 13, 1995, Phish was the musical guest on The Late Show with David Letterman. “Julius” was performed with support from The Late Show Band as well as Dave “The Truth” Grippo on saxophone. The second of nine performances at The Ed Sullivan Theater, Phish performed on Letterman over a span of 20 years to highlight upcoming shows and recent releases. Their Letterman performance would be their last show until late September that year.

    The band’s first performance included, at Dave’s supposed request, “Chalkdust Torture,” which was performed on the afternoon of the band’s first ever show at Madison Square Garden, December 30, 1994. Jerry Seinfeld was the first guest that night, which led to this iconic photo:

    phish letterman

    Other individual song performances on Letterman include “Character Zero” on March 5, 1997, “Birds of a Feather” on October 27, 1998, “Heavy Things” on May 15, 2000, “All of These Dreams” on December 19, 2002, a multi-song performance on the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee on June 21, 2004, and “The Line” on June 25, 2014.

    On June 21, 2004, the band memorably performed atop the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee to a crowd of hundreds dancing in the street on Broadway. Then in 2014, on the same night they performed “The Line,” they also treated a lucky group of fans to a set from the same stage where The Beatles made their American debut. Check out the setlist here.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dlYEGQbZbA

  • Discover up and coming bands with EQXposure Featured Artists of the week

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to a ever-expanding listening audience. Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm on 102.7 FM, you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. NYS Music will bring you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear music from Asa Morris, Olsen Brothers Band, Dylan Giambatista, Zam Smarkey, Brian Kaplan Band and many more!

    Asa Morris – You’re Always Home

    Asa has been a part of the Upstate NY music scene for more than a decade and is currently living in Burlington, VT. On Tuesday, July 14th he will be releasing his 35th solo EP in six years. Seriously. Go check him out at Bandcamp and count them for yourself. The new EP, God Has Entered My Body. My Perfect Body, My Same Size was recorded this past spring and features many of his former band mates who all recorded their parts remotely and will be available at all major digital retailers with proceeds being donated to organizations in support of both Black Lives Matter and Police abolition.  

    Olson Brothers Band – Candle in A Storm

    These brothers from Bennington, Vermont say “This is a song about having the strength to say NO to Violence, to say NO to ALL forms of discrimination,” It’s “about equality and the journey to obtain it. Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself, even if it gets you into trouble.”

    Dylan Giambatista – Run For It & Vote For Me

    Essex County (VT) House Rep. Dylan Giambatsta recorded and released a two track album about the experience of running for office. He says he grew up in the southern Route 7 corridor of Vermont and he has announced plans to run for one of the six Chittenden County Senate seats in January. He is giving away 7” records of his two songs “Run For It” and “Vote For Me” which you can get by visiting vtdylan.com and clicking on the “Music for 2020” tab.

    Zam Smarkey – Helado

    Zam Smarkey is a band from Saratoga Springs who just released an album called The Ice Cream Album. The idea came about when the band members were discussing what they would like to do for a summer job and they kicked around some ideas like a shaved ice business and buying an ice cream truck. Ice cream truck was the winning idea but they don’t like ice cream truck music. So what are a bunch of musician friends to do? Make an entire album of songs about ice cream. That’s what. They have yet to procure an ice cream truck but I can imagine by the sound of their stuff that they have the passion to get it done. 

    Brian Kaplan Band – Only For Tonight

    This song is from Brian Kaplan’s new album Make No Mistake. EQX’s Jason Keller says “With Brian’s latest album, you’ll find an experienced musician, writer, and storyteller who is comfortable with showing you that one album doesn’t have to be one style. You’ll find some crunchy guitar riffs, like on “Break From the Weight,” but you can also find songs like “You Can Have It” that slow things down a bit and capture a slightly more sentimental vibe. Brian’s clear, strong, voice really brings this production together.” Listen to the track on the band’s website.

  • Rock the Dock and Eastbound Throwdown festivals cancel for 2020

    Two beloved music festivals in the 518 will not return until 2021 due to COVID-19. Rock the Dock, held in Lake George, and Eastbound Throwdown, held in Salem, have each postponed their scheduled events until next year

    rock the dock eastbound throwdown

    Originally scheduled for July 17, then rescheduled for August 14, the festival was looking forward to their fourth year at Lake George Steamboat Company, but have made plans for July 23, 2021 to hold the annual event.

    Founded by Formula 5 in 2017 as a way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lake George Steamboat Company, the band played their final show on July 12, 2019 at Rock the Dock. The festival hosts regional and national acts with a stage on the pier of the Lake George Steamboat Company, with three steamboats framing the event.

    Keyboardist Matt Richards of Formula 5 was slated to return with Annie in the Water for this year’s installment, but that will have to wait another year. Other announced artists included Dogs in a Pile, Raisinhead, and Big Time Kitty.

    eastbound throwdown

    Eastbound Throwdown, hosted by beloved Northern rock outfit Eastbound Jesus, was scheduled to take place September 11-12, 2020. New dates have not been announced, and only Eastbound Jesus was announced for the lineup this year. Past lineups have included The Mallett Brothers Band, Girl Blue, Driftwood, Formula 5, The Ghost of Paul Revere, among many others.