NYS Music 202​0

Author: Pete Mason

  • Goosemas to Livestream from Rockefeller Center on Dec. 11

    Connecticut-based Goose have announced plans for their seventh annual Goosemas holiday celebration, this time with a live stream concert from Rockefeller Center in New York City. On Friday December 11 at 7pm ET, Goose will offer an exclusive Twitch stream on the new Relix Channel, with proceeds benefiting Save Our Stages and Conscious Alliance.

    goosemas rockefeller center

    A first of its kind livestream, Goose will perform more than seven stories high in the Manhattan skyline. Goosemas is an annual year end celebration, having grown from small clubs to the Wall Street Theater in Norwalk, CT over the past six years. Peter Anspatch recalls his first show with the band:

    Goosemas 4 was my first gig playing with Goose so the annual show has a big place in my heart. I’m bummed we can’t be with our family and friends in person for this one, but the location is going to make it that much more exciting to stream. I’m beyond stoked we were able to pull that together in such a chaotic year. Big shout out to our whole team for always crushing it, Peter Shapiro, and thanks to Rockefeller Center for hosting what will be a very special night. 

    As with annual tradition, Goosemas will also include a charitable aspect during 2020’s most important giving month. Proceeds from the benefit will go to two separate organizations; NIVA’s Save our Stages — a national charity that provides support to independent live event venues and promoters throughout the United States in these trying times; and Conscious Alliance — a nonprofit that connects a network of creatives to collect large-scale donations in order to combat hunger in historically underserved communities.

    goosemas wall street theater rockefeller center
    photo by Scott Harris

    Donations from Goosemas at Rockefeller Center will help keep Conscious Alliance on the road this winter delivering 200,000 meals to kids and families in need. Every $1 donation = 2 meals to someone going without food this holiday season.

    Goose has amazing momentum right now and we are so excited to be working with them on this incredibly special performance at Rockefeller Center– one of the most iconic locations in the world. There isn’t a more epic way to ring in the holidays than with a rock show in the sky.

    Peter Shapiro, Publisher of Relix Magazine and Twitch Relix Channel. 

    Donations are now being accepted at GOOSEMAS.com. Those who make donations through the Goosemas website will receive early access to the Goosemas Merch Store on Wednesday, December 9th at 10 am ET, and opening to the general public at 1pm ET. For more information, visit GOOSEMAS.com.

  • EPAC Virtual Christmas Show Starts December 17

    The EPAC Virtual Christmas Show will be available on EPAC Digital, a new online platform granting digital access to EPAC Productions, from December 17th through January 3rd, 2021.

    EPAC

    Endicott Performing Arts Center has put together a spectacular variety show of great holiday classics, as well as some newer contemporary songs to brighten your holiday season. You can watch local talent perform your signature holiday songs, that you can’t have Christmas without, including performances of “Happy Christmas… War is Over,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “White Christmas,” among many others. There will be performances from different locations, including people singing and dancing from home, from the EPAC Recording Stage, and out and about in the local landscape of the Southern Tier.

    A short holiday themed puppet show presented by the EPAC Puppet Tree Theater Group is also a part of the series, as well as archival footage of shows from Christmas’ past. Don’t miss this experience, with amazing local talent performing virtually for the safety and entertainment of the entire community.

    Visit the Endicott Performing Arts Center website for more details and how to register for on-demand tickets to this Virtual Event.

    EPAC

    The Endicott Performing Arts Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide an affordable and high quality venue to local, regional and touring performing artists, enabling them to present, develop, & improve their artistic efforts.

    Over the past 23 years, EPAC has: Renovated and Operated out of the 104 year old “Lyric Theater” in Endicott, NY. To provide a means for thousands of community members to gain education about all aspects of the performing arts, while presenting a diverse array of affordable high quality performing arts events to our community. EPAC typically attracts over 20,000 people to the Arts Center every year, as well as hundreds of people to the outdoor “Stage at Little Italy” with its annual Shakespeare in the Park event at the George W. Johnson Park.

  • Watch Morgan Wallen on Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live returned on December fifth after a few well deserved weeks off. The 46th season began with six consecutive shows, an SNL first, with the return episode featuring host Jason Bateman and musical guest Morgan Wallen.

    morgan wallen SNL
    Morgan Wallen, Jason Bateman and Heidi Gardner

    Wallen had originally planned to be the musical guest for the October 10th episide, but after he was seen partying with fans in Tuscaloosa, AL the week before, and as a result his performance was canceled. The country singer thus missed out on his SNL debut out of an abundance of caution in COVID-19 pandemic.

    Replacing Wallen was Jack White, who paid tribute to Eddie Van Halen that night.

    Before taking the Studio 8H stage, Wallen appeared in a sketch poking fun at his going out to bars and hanging with fans. Future versions of himself – each from one month farther into the future – appeared to warn him of the consequences of that night.

    The first song of the night from Wallen was “7 Summers,” a ballad written with Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally from Wallen’s upcoming album Dangerous: The Double Album, due out January 8, 2021. Wallen’s band featured Luke “Cowboy” Rice, Mark “Taco” Annino, Dominic Frost and Tyler Tomlinson who performed under broad lighting in the shape of an M,

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLhRaSP-DJs

    With the M display now resembling Christmas trees, Wallen returned later in the night with “Still Goin’ Down,” also off the upcoming Dangerous: The Double Album.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCbT8AGveI&

    One sketch spoofed Eminem’s “Stan” and even got the rap icon to appear in a cameo. Staten Island’s Pete Davidson appeared as the Stan character, Stu, writing letter after letter to Santa, asking for a PlayStation 5. The Christmas-spin on “Stan” follows Stu down an obsessive path in search of a response from Santa. At the end, Eminem opens Stu’s gift, saying “That’s crazy, a PS5? I didn’t even ask for this. I guess Shady must’ve been a good boy this year. Sorry, Stu. You fucked up.”

    Saturday Night Live returns on December 12 with host Timothée Chalamet and musical guest Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

  • Neal Casal Final Solo Recordings Released

    The final two solo recordings from the late Neal Casal – “Everything Is Moving” and “Green Moon” – have been released across all digital music platforms. The accompanying video for “Everything Is Moving,” directed by Ray Foley, features footage of Casal from throughout his career, has also been released.

    The songs were initially written as early as 2013, but Casal, never completed them prior to his passing in August 2019. Over the course of 2020, Casal’s close friends and longtime musical collaborators Jeff Hill, Jon Graboff, John Ginty, George Sluppick, Jena Kraus, JP Hesser and Jim Scott came together to add additional parts and complete mixing on the tracks.

    neal casal final

    Working on these songs has been truly cathartic for me as I continue to process the loss of my dear friend. Neal writes in ‘Everything Is Moving,’ ‘I am just a shadow on the wall, you won’t even think of me at all.’ As much as Neal’s lyrics can be eerily prophetic of the tragedy to come, he was wrong. So many of us will be thinking of Neal for decades to come

    Jeff Hill

    The two songs are also featured on a limited edition 7-inch vinyl that will be released on February 26, 2020, by the Neal Casal Music Foundation (NCMF) in collaboration with Royal Potato Family, who released Casal’s final solo album, ‘Sweeten the Distance,’ in 2012. Pre-order for the vinyl edition is available now.

    All proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit the non-profit formed in Casal’s name, which will provide instruments and lessons to students in New Jersey and New York state schools, where Neal was born and raised, and will also make donations to much needed mental health organizations that support musicians in need.

    NCMF is being spearheaded by Casal’s longtime manager Gary Waldman and a team of the late musician’s friends. A first round of funding for the foundation was raised through a Kickstarter campaign earlier this summer comprised by two primary packages: a coffee table photography book, ‘Tomorrow’s Sky: Photographs by Neal Casal’ produced by Jay Blakesberg and edited by his daughter Ricki Blakesberg, along with a 30-plus song tribute album, ‘Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal,’ tentatively planned for release in Spring 2021.

    neal casal final

    Casal began recording “Everything Is Moving,” which in hindsight hints at some of the struggles he was facing, at The Stable at Studio G in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, around February 2013. The band on these initial sessions featured Casal on acoustic guitar and vocals, Jon Graboff on acoustic guitar, Jeff Hill on bass and Joe Russo on drums. Additional parts were cut in July 2020 w/ Graboff returning to play pedal steel and electric guitar, John Ginty adding piano and Hammond B-3 organ and harmony vocals contributed by Hill and Jena Kraus.

    With Casal beginning to envision a new album of solo songs, he started work on “Green Moon” at Castaway 7 Studios near his home in Ventura, CA in the summer of 2016, laying down lead and background vocals, acoustic and electric guitars and piano. Jeff Hill and George Sluppick would add bass and drum tracks respectively to the original recording in October 2020 to complete the song.

    Neal Casal was a songwriter, singer, guitarist, record producer, photographer, surfer and friend. Over the course of a 30-plus year career, he appeared on multiple recordings as a member of bands like Circles Around the Sun, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Beachwood Sparks, The Skiffle Players and Hard Working Americans.

    With the formation of the Neal Casal Music Foundation, the body of work he left behind, including an extensive archive of unreleased material, will be reimagined to further shine a light on his artistry, while providing resources to raise money for positive change. Neal Casal brought joy to so many and, in his absence, the foundation created in his name will further that purpose. It also hopes to reflect back to Casal the beauty he brought to this world in pursuit of a life dedicated to music and art.

    Stream both songs here and watch the videos below.

  • Elder Orange, Fine Grain and more featured on this week’s EQXposure

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Elder Orange, Fine Grain and many more!

    elder orange

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    Vermont’s Elder Orange has released a new recording titled, “Brick’s in the Bathwater.” This release is a fascinating sonic journey, evocative and head bobbing, full of emotional voices, brilliant guitar playing, melody weaving, and genre bending. The album is a series of connected tunes that all work as one piece of music, one that is very inventive and unique in a world of singles that occupy the popular music format. This bold step of creativity is worthy of far more attention. Available for streaming on Bandcamp.

    Kicking off the show will be two new songs from Fine Grain. The first is a world premiere release of “Calculate,” available on Thursday, December 10, followed up by “Strings Attached.” Fine Grain is a weird punk/post-punk outfit out of the Capital District that doesn’t quite stick to genres. Their live shows feature antics, copious beer consumption and a lot of hair with a lot energy put into the music that even on record, they sound as though they’re playing in your living room. 

    EQXposure will also be featuring more music from Upstate Mixtape, Vol 1., a compilations of 518 artists, committed to amplifying Black voices and suppressing racism. One hundred percent of the sales of the release, will be distributed to black artists. Pick up a copy here.

    Upstate Mixtape Vol 1. is part of antiracist grassroots fundraising efforts, spearheaded by Jammella Anderson. Among songs contributed to Vol 1. include demos, B-sides, album loose ends and more from a group that showcases the multifaceted nature of musicians in the 518. This week you’ll hear JB and Victory Soul Orchestra‘s “God Self Icon,” NXNS “Motherbrain,” The Age “Take a Dive,” and Wurliday “Clyde.”

  • Premiere: Oak & Ash look for better days with “New World”

    Oak & Ash, an alternative rock band from New York today release “New World,” their first single in over three years. With a relevant message of change and hope for better days to come, “New World” is a motivational anthem for everyone who strives to build a better and more accepting world.

    oak and ash

    “New World” was written for people who are acknowledging today’s mistakes, with a reminder that although the world we live in is full of love, kindness, generosity, and beauty, it has yet to grow out of hate, inequality, injustice, and fear. There is still work to be done in order to eradicate these major issues, but in order to do so, we have to come together.

    Produced by multi-Grammy award-winning producer/ engineer, Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse), “New World” maintains the energy of a live band with added support from Moon Taxi’s Spencer Thomson who adds a layer of synthetic production work to the track.

    Oak & Ash captured the energy they bring to live shows and with help from Jacquire, the band was able to continue to spotlight vocals and instruments and stay true to their original sound. The band had been focusing on live performances since their last release and then hit pause due to the pandemic.

    Oak & Ash is Rich Tuorto (vocals, guitarist, keyboardist), Chris Tuorto (guitarist), Paul Gramigna (bassist), and Bryan Garbe (drummer). The band got thier start in New York City in 2014 when the Tuorto cousins and long-time friend, Paul, decided to join forces and they haven’t looked back since. Their debut EP, “Slightly Reckless,” was released in 2015 and singles “Step into the Light” and “For You” follwed in 2017. They also celebrated a career-defining moment in March 2017, opening for Bon Jovi at Madison Square Garden. 

    Follow Oak & Ash on Instagram | Spotify | Facebook | YouTube

  • Consider the Source Announces Hero Squad New Year’s Run

    Sci-fi Middle Eastern Prog Rockers Consider the Source have announced their “Hero Squad” New Year’s Run over December 28-31, 2020.

    Consider the Source Hero Squad

    CTS will wrap up 2020 with four limited seating, socially distant shows, which will culminate with two nights at The Stone Church in New Hampshire.  The venues for all four shows have been following safety protocols with success and the band currently feels they are adequate spaces to perform.

    Fans are asked to adhere to any ground rules laid out by the venue and respect the band, audience, and staff’s space. Some venues may require the purchase of an entire table, as all shows are operating as seated shows with reduced capacities set by the venues. Please refer to venue websites for all show info. Tickets are on sale now for the Consider the Source Hero Squad New Year’s Run.

    12/28 Jergel’s – Pittsburgh, PA 
    12/29 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 
    12/30 The Stone Church – Newmarket, NH
    12/31 The Stone Church – Newmarket, NH SOLD OUT

  • Folk-Rock Rabbi Gedalya looks at Spirituality during the Holidays

    Hanukkah is right around the corner and folk-rock Rabbi Gedalya has released “The Lesson of the Flame,” a musical reflection on the need for positive spirituality during difficult situations.

    gedalya

    With a spiritual message that is universal, “The Lesson of the Flame” reflects Gedalya’s faith. “Finding ways to get through hardship is central to religion,” says Gedalya, “and I wanted this song to reflect the powerful combination of faith and positivity.”

    It’s my first time writing a holiday song, or even writing a song directly about Judaism, for that matter. Even though I wrote the song with the holiday season in mind, it’s about more than just the annual celebration. I wanted to convey the power in continuity and history. This Hanukkah, many of us are experiencing a year of tragedies, but by learning from tradition and remaining faithful we can find better times. I tried to reflect that in ‘The Lesson of the Flame.’

    Gedalya

    The roots of ‘the flame’ in this case connects to the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, and the lesson that comes from the eight-day holiday. Jewish men fought against the Greeks around 165 BCE, thus preserving their belief in the Torah. This self-sacrifice merited a miracle which revealed to them divine assistance; thus future generations now have this lesson to remember that even in the darkest of times, we are all capable of receiving divine assistance, especially when putting in effort to see through lies and seek the truth.

    The song speaks directly to the power of positivity, especially during times of tribulation.

    Finding yourself can be a challenge, especially when times are difficult. This year especially I have seen so many struggle with what is happening in the world. I wanted to make sure they heard a positive message for the holiday, but also I wanted anyone that hears the song to feel – deep down – that their situation can also get better. Now is the time to look inward to find the strength to make it to those better times.

    Gedalya

    The message of the song is not inherent to a particular faith, but rather speaks to a state of being. Framing ones mind that allows light to enter the darkness and appreciate the blessings of life.

    Listen to “The Lesson of the Flame” here and learn more about Gedalya on his website, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS5tEYVEzx8

  • Los Lobos “Still Home for the Holidays” to Stream on 12/11

    Los Lobos will perform “Still Home for the Holidays,” a live stream from the legendary Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA on Friday, December 11, starting at 7pm PST (10pm EST).

    A themed stream to celebrate the holidays, Los Lobos fans can purchase a virtually interactive experience with the band before they hit the stage. Tickets and more information are available here.

    los lobos stream

    A Chicano rock n roll band whose members hail from East Los Angeles, the group’s longevity over the last five decades is remarkable, having formed in 1973 and amassed a strong following and reputation for stand out live performances.

    Rhino Records approached Los Lobos in spring 2019 to record a Latin Christmas album, leading saxophonist Steve Berlin to resesarch Spanish-language holiday songs for the album.

    Llegó Navidad, which translates to “Christmas in here,” is the first holiday release from Los Lobos in their career of mixing rock n roll with blues, folk, soul and traditional Mexican music. The bilingual collection of songs from across Latin America and the U.S begins with an obscure novelty hit that was once popular in Latino households in the Southwest, “¿Dónde Está Santa Claus?”

    According to NPR, title track “Llegó Navidad,” is a classic from the Fania Records catalog originally performed by the Puerto Rican composer and singer Ismael Rivera. The David Hidalgo and Louie Perez original “Christmas and You” is a ballad of loss, and closes with a scorcher in “It’s Christmas Time In Texas,” a song by Tex- Mex troubadour Freddy Fender.

    In 2019, the band was able to tour later in the year in support of the release, so this year they’ll remain in Southern California to stream the event live to a wider audience than ever before. They’ve performed across New York State regularly when they are on the road, with performances at The Egg, The Capitol Theatre, and recently, the Performing Arts Center in Homer.

  • Upstate Mixtape Vol 1. Featured on this week’s EQXposure

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear artists featured on Upstate Mixtape Vol.1 and many more!

    ugly muppets upstate mixtape

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    For the next two weeks, EQXposure will feature bands and the music selected for Upstate Mixtape Vol 1, a compilations of artists from the 518 area, committed to amplifying Black voices and suppressing racism. 100 percent of sales of the release, which will be distributed to black artists.

    upstate mixtape

    Upstate Mixtape Vol 1. is part of antiracist grassroots fundraising efforts, spearheaded by Jammella Anderson, working with musicians that identify with antiracism values and commit to amplify Black voices. Among songs contributed to Vol 1. include demos, B-sides, album loose ends and more from a group that showcases the multifaceted nature of musicians in the 518.

    Featured artists that you’ll hear on EQXposure from Upstate Mixtape Vol. 1 include Blue Ranger, “Everybody Lies,” Greens, “Go Somewhere,” Carl Daniels “Morning Pages,” and Front Biz “I Want You.” More tracks from Upstate Mixtape Vol. 1 will be featured next week, as this is a collection of tunes that deserves two weeks.

    Also featured on EQXposure are two cuts from Liam Singer’s forthcoming release, The Ocean, due out on January 15, which features a mixture of vocal and instrumental pieces, in the vein of new-composition and experimental music. “Cannon Beach” features guest vocals by Arone Dyer (Buke & Gase, Mistresses, Drone Choir), and “Heavy Water / I’d Rather be Sleeping” is a cover of a song by the artist Grouper, from her 2008 album Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill.