Brooklyn-based duo Drug Couple return with two new tracks, “No Outside” and “Alone 2gether,” a pairing of B-Sides released via Papercup Music. The prescient tracks were written and named before the pandemic, and offer a meditation on bunkering down with someone special while the world outside burns
The two tracks find Miles singing and playing guitar, keyboard, and chimes, with Becca on bass and vocals. Their music attempts to showcase a dialogue between genders, as opposed to the one-sided soliloquies that define so much of popular music. The two singles precede the release of their sophomore EP Choose Your Own Apocalypse, due out August 2020 on PaperCup Music.
Choose Your Own Apocalypse stands to be a collection of songs about finding someone special to share the end-times alongside. The music is not fresh from the effects of the pandemic, but find their roots in the summer of 2016. As events lead up to the election of Donald Trump, it already seemed certain that, one way or the other, Armageddon was right around the corner. Drug Couple decided to make a record based around the concept of falling in love mid-apocalypse without fully realizing that’s exactly what they were doing.
For the next installment of moe.ron Monday on Nugs.TV, the band heads to Colorado for their February 6, 2015 performance from the Ogden Theatre in Denver. moe. also recently announced the upcoming digital release of their new album This is not, We are, with select songs now available for streaming.
Let’s head north on I-87 to Glens Falls for the May 5, 1981 Grateful Dead show at Glens Falls Civic Center. This is a high energy show, especially Set 2.
The opening set goes back and forth on Jerry and Bobby tunes until “Althea” breaks out for 10 minutes, and the set-closing pair of “The Music Never Stopped” -> “Don’t Ease Me In” is worth a listen. Set 2 stands out on paper, and for good reason. The transition from “Scarlet Begonias” into “Fire on the Mountain” is as musically tight as one could ask for, with melodic solos throughout each.
backstage pass via Larry St.Pierre
“Estimated Prophet” gets dark quick and leads into the uplifting “Eyes of the World.” A Spanish jam that develops from “Truckin’” leads into “Alabama Getaway,” and closes a set with “Johnny B. Goode.” This show is a hidden gem among Dead shows in Upstate New York. Listen below.
Grateful Dead – Glens Falls Civic Center – May 5, 1981
Set 1: Feel Like A Stranger, Peggy-O-> El Paso, Ramble On Rose, CC Rider, Althea, Passenger, Brown Eyed Women, The Music Never Stopped-> Don’t Ease Me In
Set 2: Scarlet Begonias-> Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet-> Eyes Of The World-> Drums-> Uncle John’s Band-> Truckin’-> Alabama Getaway-> Johnny B. Goode
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 to discover 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 Belle-Skinner, The Abyssmals, Paradisa and many more!
Belle-Skinner – “Red“
Belle-Skinner is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer based out of Troy and Brooklyn. She describes this song as a blood moon western apocalyptic west world tune inspired by Exudos and The Grapes of Wrath and strangely enough, it was written and recorded before COVID-19 became a big thing. Check out her new album Violets which you can buy at her belle-skinner.com.
The Abyssmals – “Let’s Forget“
This Schenectady bands unique psych-garage sound is influenced by everything from Nuggets-era classics, surf guitars, 70’s punk, Motown/Stax records, Britpop and Shoegazers of the 90’s, and Beyoncé. They’ve had music featured on various network and streaming series such as The Punisher, Nancy Drew, and Shameless. They say this song is for fans of Jesus and Mary Chain, Pulp, Ramones, karaoke, intimacy, and Nick-at-Nite.
Paradisa – “Can’t Get Enough“
Straddling the line between hooky alternative rock and the musical freedom of the neo-progressive movement of the mid-2000s, Upstate New York’s paradisa is an amalgamation of influences, experiences, and viewpoints. Four longtime friends who found each other in various corners of the burgeoning punk & alternative scenes of Northern NY, the newly anointed band have found themselves searching for truth in a world of fallacies.
Higher Ground announced this week that a large stage is being constructed at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, VT. It will be home to a new series called ‘Higher Ground Drive-In Experience.’ All proceeds will go to benefit the Vermont Arts Council providing much needed relief to the arts community across Vermont.
The HG Drive-In Experience officially opens this weekend on June 13 with three area High School graduation ceremonies for Champlain Valley Union High School, Essex High School and South Burlington High School.
A few days later on Tuesday June 16, the archival special Phish: Dinner & A Movie will be available to enjoy on the big screen. Gates open at 6 p.m. est with the show starting at 7 p.m. est. Tickets are on sale now for $25.
In a press release Higher Ground cofounder Alex Crothers confirmed that the drive-in will be used for a variety of events in the future, including “religious worship, charity bingo nights (for which we have a Blackout Bingo promo code for), live streaming of concert events, chamber orchestras, live plays, weddings, political rallies, etc.”
Keeping with a true drive-in experience, 27-foot LED video walls mounted 40 feet high will be erected next to the stage to boost visibility. Cars must be spaced six feet apart and you will be able to sit outside your vehicles in lawn chairs or on blankets.The experience can accommodate up to 250 vehicles, ticketing will be per vehicle and are available online. Visit highergroundmusic.com for an updated calendar of Higher Ground Drive-In Experience events.
The latest from Albany’s Wavy Cunningham is a track for the times. “All We Need is Love” captures the raw emotion from recent protests over the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville. Cunningham brought his emotion to the studio to channel his thoughts:
I’ve been struggling to come up with the words to express my emotions during this time. I felt like the best route was education.”
Produced by Phil Dreisin, “All We Need is Love” precedes the upcoming release of Cunningham’s next album, Club Wavy.
Watch them perform their eponymous song, “Hartley’s Encore,” for a funky break from your day. Hartley’s lineup includes Chris Oliver on guitar, Luke Malamood on keys and vocals, Jeff Nania on sax, Aimee Winzenread on vocals, Erik Pravel on drums and Dan Lawson on bass.
The next installment of Lark Hall Window Sessions is this Friday, featuring Brian LaPoint and the Joints. The stream kicks off at 5pm Friday, tune in here to watch.
Having just released the “Unhurried Journey” on May 29, Brooklyn musician Elena Moon Park, current co-Artistic Director of Found Sound Nation, a member of Bang On A Can, and a former player of the Grammy winning Dan Zanes and Friends, today premieres the video for the eponymous single. The world traveling Park, along with artist Lauren Gregory, illustrate what a free spirited world could sound and look like.
The albumUnhurried Journeyoffers a fresh and dynamic collection of reimagined East and Southeast Asian music and original, Western-style songs that encourage listeners of all-ages to slow down and appreciate each moment, finding the joy in their journey. Park says of the single of the same name:
The track “Unhurried Journey” is inspired by a serene and beautiful scene of the same name, created by artist Kristiana Pärn, which reminds us to take our time and make space for self-care on this journey of ours. In the song, I celebrate the beautiful things in nature that flow around us, slow and steady, with patience and care. I invited the wonderful musician Elizabeth Mitchell to sing this with me, as her music exemplifies patience and care for me.
On the website for the album, Park offers a suggested activity for kids (and adults) that accompanies the song, where you can try to draw a representation of something in the world that moves around you, slow and steady. The website also serves as a gallery dedicated to the collection, sharing the artwork that inspired each song, as well as the lyrics in original languages, translations of songs, stories, videos and more.
The video for “Unhurried Journey” was created by Park’s childhood friend Lauren Gregory, an oil painter and animator from Oak Ridge, TN. Park always found herself mesmerized by Gregory’s creations using stop motion oil painting animation. Gregory also created the video for the song “Anta Gata Doko Sa” from Park’s last album, Rabbit Days and Dumplings. Gregory said of her method behind the video:
When Elena asked me to make an animation for “Unhurried Journey,” I wanted to paint a sort of lullaby experience that was both adventurous and cozy. The landscape that this little bear family travels through is inspired by the foothills of the Smoky Mountains where Elena and I grew up as neighbors and friends. The two bears aren’t concerned about getting anywhere fast, they’re just enjoying the journey and getting some good quality time in together.
Unhurried Journeywas produced by Elena Moon Park and Rob Friedman and was recorded, mixed and mastered by Rob Friedman at littlelife studios and David studios in NYC. The 16 song collection encourages listeners of all-ages to slow down and appreciate each moment, finding the joy in the journey.
It’s been 25 years since we last heard from Bill and Ted, who performed “God Gave Rock and Roll To You” in front of the world, thus leading to world peace. Now they’re middle-aged dads and are on a mission once again to be excellent to each other, and to party on. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return this summer in Bill and Ted 3: Face the Music with the new trailer debuting today.
The plot of the film focuses on Bill and Ted, who are back in San Dimas, CA, yet still have to fulfill their destiny by writing a hit song.
It looks like time-travel is once again on tap, as well as a visit to hell to meet Death, played by William Sadler, reprising his most excellent role from 1991’s Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. The release date is not yet set due to COVID-19 but we can most likely look for a late summer/early fall release.
For tonight’s moe.ron Monday on Nugs.TV, the band goes back to their April 22, 2017 show at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, North Carolina. moe. also recently announced the upcoming digital release of their new album This is not, We are, with select songs now available for streaming.
Set 1: Okayalright > Wormwood, Not Coming Down, Seat Of My Pants > Sensory Deprivation Bank, Prestige Worldwide, St. Augustine Set 2: Big World > Ricky Marten > Hi and Lo > Bullet > Kyle’s Song, Opium, Silver Sun Encore: Captain America
All funds received during the webcast will be donated to the NAACP. Tune in here at 8pm on Monday, and watch last week’s installment below.
