Category: Features

In Focus: Umphrey’s Closes out Three Nights in NYC

On Sunday, Umphrey’s McGee closed out a three-night NYC weekend on their winter tour with an intimate show at Brooklyn Bowl. The jam veterans treated loyal fans to two sets filled with covers, rare originals and new music. The Sunday closer was a change of venue, but the intimate atmosphere of Brooklyn Bowl proved to be the key ingredient in a night where the entire band felt comfortable and dialed in to the show and their fans.

The first set began with “Looks” and continued with “The Fussy Dutchman” which included a “YYZ” tease that continued the themed tribute to Rush and the late Neil Peart for the entire weekend run. The first set concluded with a “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” that segued into the band’s original take on LCD Soundsystem’s “Tribulations,” debuted for the first time during the recent New Year’s run, before returning back to “Miss Tinkle’s Overture,” closing out a fantastic first set.

After a short set break, the band came back with the rare opener “Front Porch,” rewarding a die-hard fan who has been chasing that track for a few tours. The 30+ minute opening track was the highlight of the night, showing off the prowess of the veteran rockers. The set continued with fan favorites “40’s Theme,” “Gulf Stream,” and “The Floor.” But it was the debut performance of “Suxity,” a brand-new song, that closed out an amazing show and was proof that 2020 will be a good one for Umphrey’s Mcgee.

Set 1: Looks, The Fussy Dutchman, Maybe Someday > Got Your Milk (Right Here) > Walletsworth, Domino Theory, Miss Tinkle’s Overture -> Tribulations > Miss Tinkle’s Overture

Set 2: Front Porch > Resolution > Front Porch, 40’s Theme, Miami Virtue -> Out Of Order > Gulf Stream, The Floor

Encore: Phil’s Farm > Suxity > Phil’s Farm

January 23, 2020
In Focus: Mike Gordon kicks off Winter Tour at State Theatre of Ithaca
On the cusp of a winter storm, blanketing the Northeast, Ithaca was bustling with energy ahead of the start of Mike Gordon tour at State Theatre on Friday, January 17. Mike took time during the show to reference Phish’s February 1991 show at the State Theatre, recalling the show as “the night we gave the van away,” when the band gave away Fishman’s family minivan to an audience member. Nearly 30 years later, Mike suggested that this time he said he was giving away a Hummer limo. He did not and the show continued.

Throughout the night, Mike weaved Little Feat’s “Sailin’ Shoes” between songs, as well used “I Am Random,” “Pendulum” and “Victim” to sandwich additional songs in between, including a debut cover of Aimee Mann’s “Save Me,” inside “Pendulum.” Two Phish staples stood out as highlights in the second set – a percussion heavy “Cities” and a slow and groovy “Funky Bitch” for an encore. Mike Gordon heads into the Midwest this week as the tour heads to Seattle for the final show on February 1.

Set 1: Victim, Say Something > Victim > Victim 3D, Steps, Borrowing Rain [1], Sailin’ Shoes > Jumping, Sughn Never Sets.

Set 2: Pendulum > Save Me [2] > Pendulum, Acid Man, I Am Random > Sailin’ Shoes > I Am Random, Cities > Crazy Sometimes > Sailin’ Shoes > Crazy Sometimes

Encore: Funky Bitch[1] Debut.
[2] Mike Gordon debut.
January 22, 2020
NYC Winter Jazz Marathon Takes Over Brooklyn and the Bowl

The NYC Winter Jazz Fest rolled on with the Jazz Fest Marathon, which included 6 venues in Brooklyn with a myriad of jazz verticals. One ticket was accepted at any location, allowing fans to customize their music experience. This review will focus on coverage from the legendary Brooklyn Bowl, located on the waterfront in Williamsburg.

Kendra Morris

Singer-songwriter Kendra Morris and her four-piece band kicked off the festivities with their “soul meets indie” jazz sound. Most of their material was originals written by Morris, and soul-fully executed by her adept band. Her beautiful voice electrified the crowd when she belted out the classic Pink Floyd tune “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

Felix Pastorius and Hipster Assassins

Felix Pastorius, son of jazz legend Jaco Pastorius, and Hipster Assassins, his experimental bass-driven jazz band, was up next. Their eclectic mix of a guitar, bass, drums and saxophone raised the bar of modern jazz. Their free flowing sound yielded a creative and fresh take on the classic jazz tune, “Butter Biscuit.”

Kung Fu

Following Pastorius was Kung Fu, the Connecticut-based jazz group led by guitarist Tim Palmieri, who delivered non-stop funk for the people. Their intense set included a nice groove and contagious stage energy between the band members. Palmieri’s performance was nothing short of legendary, diving on his knees and playing off the energy of the crowd. The band hit a high note during the cover of the jazz classic “Birdland.”

DJ Logic

The evening wrapped up with a late night performance by DJ Logic and friends, supported by Billy Martin and Shanir Blumenkranz. This set was filled with beats and scratching, care of DJ Logic. The organic percussion of Martin and the various string instruments played by Blumenkranz created a perfect harmony with the digital elements.

Tim Palmieri of Kung Fu

Overall, the NYC Winter Jazz Fest Marathon was a delightful way to enjoy a number of bands under one or more roofs, depending on the tastes of the listener. Head on over to their website for more information about future Jazz Fests.

January 21, 2020
Umphrey’s Mcgee Kick Off 2020 With an Electric Show at The Beacon Theatre
It was cold in the Beacon and the lights were low. Spirits were high, as masses of Umphrey’s McGee fans piled into the Beacon Theatre, shaking off those winter blues with some good ol’ fashioned rock n roll.

Photo by Zach Culver

Umphrey’s started off their tour, playing their first show of 2020 in NYC at The Beacon Theatre. They returned Friday night, then played Saturday at Brooklyn Bowl. Friday night featured an afterparty with Doom Flamingo at Sony Hall. Saturday’s after Party was also held at Sony Hall and featured Supernatural Beings with Jake as a special guest.

They wasted no time and played a first first set starting with Unsung Hero > Jajunk > Ocean Billy. The first set escalated quickly and stayed at an eclectic high with a triumphant finish with special guest Kanika Moore of Doom Flamingo sitting in on vocals on Anthem by Rush!

Photo by Zach Culver

Second set opened up with an intro by Stasik of a champion of Jam On fantasy football quickly followed by Suxity> Jajunk, Breaker, Wappy Sprayberry (featuring a Jumping Jack Flash jam)! The second set was of to a hell of a start and seemed to escalate through the end, ending the second set with It Doesn’t Matter.

The encore proved to be well worth the wait, The Weight Around actually followed by The Silent Type which featured a Crazy Train jam.
What a way to start the year for Umphrey’s Mcgee.

Photo by Zach Culver

Set 1: Unsung Hero > JaJunk > Ocean Billy, Speak Up, Wizard Burial Ground> Deeper > Den > Wizard Burial Ground, Anthem.

Set 2: Suxity > JaJunk, Breaker, Wappy Sprayberry> Mulche’s Odyssey, Half Delayed > It Doesn’t Matter.

Encore: The Weight Around > The Silent Type.

Photos by Zach Culver of Zatchmo Lives Media
January 19, 2020
Rammstein Tease NY Show and U.S. Upcoming Tour with ‘Rammerika,’ Music Video
Legendary German metal band, Rammstein, have teased a US tour over the past few days with social media posts featuring a map of the US with several states including NY being highlighted in the German colors. A Rammstein bannered Zeppelin flies high over major US cities, with he hashtag: #GETREADYAMERICA – all backed by a new music video “RAMMERIKA,” which explicitly credits the Apollo space program – as if foreshadowing a massive touchdown:

In the method ultimately employed, lunar orbit rendezvous, a powerful launch vehicle (Saturn V rocket) placed a 50-ton spacecraft in a lunar trajectory (Brittanica.com, as linked from the ).

The states teased in the image are as follows:
- New York
- Quebec
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Texas
- California
- Mexico City
Rammstein last performed in NY at Jones Beach on June 25, 2017. While no official locations have been named yet, it is likely they will return to Jones Beach.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7WDB6mgUHf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
January 19, 2020
Governors Ball Announces 10th Year Lineup

Governors Ball Music Festival has released its 2020 lineup, returning for the 10th year to Randall’s Island Park in New York City, the festival will take place Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7.

To celebrate the milestone, over 65 acts are slated to take the stage including: Tame Impala, Flume, Vampire Weekend, Stevie Nicks, Solange and Miley Cyrus. Joining the all-star lineup is Missy Elliott in her first NYC headlining performance in over ten years. There will also be surprise pop-up performances from local subway and street performers, as in years past.

Governors Ball 10th year lineup

Tickets are on sale now, including a festival pass to the entire event. The three day GA and VIP tickets, including payment plan options, HERE.

Check out Missy Elliott’s newest single “Why I Still Love You”.

January 19, 2020
Brooklyn’s Antibalas release “Amenawon” off upcoming Daptone Records’ ‘Fu Chronicles’

Antibalas will celebrate its 20th Anniversary with a return to their Williamsburg roots on their latest Daptone Records studio album, Fu Chronicles, due out on February 7, 2020. Today, Antibalas releases the single “Amenawon.”

A pre-gentrified Williamsburg serves as the backdrop for Fu Chronicles, a voyage back to the early days of when Antibalas and revered soul label, Daptone Records, were spawned out of lead singer Duke Amayo’s kung fu dojo. A senior master of the Jow Ga Kung Fu School of martial arts, Duke Amayo along with Antibalas’ founder/baritone saxophonist, Martín Perna, guide listeners through an epic journey where kung fu ingeniously intersects with Afrobeat on Fu Chronicles.

WNWNYC’s New Sounds exclusively premiered Antibalas’ latest from The opening track and first single off Fu Chronicles, “Amenawon,” Tuesday. It honors Amayo’s late mother, whose middle name was Amenawon. She is also depicted on the cover of Fu Chronicles standing as tall as the Statue Of Liberty, carrying a baby.

With the literal meaning translating to “may the water you will drink, not pass you by,” the composition speaks to rain water washing away pollution and the unveiling of government lies. Amayo pays homage to the Yoruba River goddess, Yomoja, whose healing powers can be accessed by invoking her name. Water is further a symbol in kung fu reflecting one’s ability to adapt to any situation.

At age 12 in Lagos, Nigeria, Amayo began his kung fu practice while simultaneously witnessing the spiritual leader Fela Kuti perform at his famous nightclubs the Afro-Spot and Afrika Shrine in Lagos. Living in the same neighborhood of the Afro-Spot and sneaking into the clubs to experience the force of nature that was Fela Kuti, a young Amayo was enlightened on his path destined for greatness in America.

Attracted to the cosmopolitan lifestyle of fashion, dance, martial arts, and music, Amayo moved beyond the highlights of his football career to launch a singular clothing brand and open a kung fu dojo in Williamsburg, dubbed the Afro-Spot Temple. Upon opening the dojo, Daptone co-founder Gabe Roth and Martín Perna inquired about classes, and soon invited Amayo to join Antibalas. The dojo became the headquarters for the band and label with Antibalas’ classic sophomore album, Talkatif (2002), being recorded onsite at the dojo’s recording studio. Coming full circle, Fu Chronicles sees Gabe Roth in the producer’s chair with Antibalas laying down the tracks at Daptone’s House of Soul in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Fu Chronicles transports listeners to where universal equilibrium and indefinite possibilities unite within a dream world of a child’s limitless mind. The transcendent long-form Afrobeat compositions decolonize our psyches through movements traversing with melodies to realign us with a purpose of finding balance in our coexistence. The fiery Antibalas ensemble — widely renowned as one of America’s fiercest live bands — along with an additional five musicians transform Amayo’s opus into hypnotic and invigorating compositions with singular rhythms of resistance.

Pre-order the album HERE.

Over the course of its lauded 20-year career, Antibalas has toured across four continents and produced eight studio albums, establishing them as the premier Afrobeat band in the West. In addition to their integral role as the backing band for the Tony Award-Winning Broadway musical “Fela,” Antibalas has served as the house band for several star-studded tribute shows at Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater paying tribute to the music of Aretha Franklin, David Byrne, Paul Simon, and Billie Holiday.

ANTIBALAS – WINTER & SPRING 2020 TOUR DATES

Tuesday, February 11 — The Siren — San Luis Obispo, CA

Wednesday, February 12 — Moe’s Alley — Santa Cruz, CA

Thursday, February 13 — The Regent — Los Angeles, CA

Friday, February 14 — The Independent — San Francisco, CA

Saturday, February 15 — The New Parish — Oakland, CA

Sunday, February 16 — The Independent — San Francisco, CA

Thursday, February 20 — Neptune Theatre — Seattle, WA

Friday, February 21 — Rickshaw Theater — Vancouver, BC

Saturday, February 22 — PDX Jazz — Portland, OR

Sunday, February 23 — The Olympic — Boise, ID

Wednesday, February 26 — Knotty Pine — Victor ID

Thursday, February 27 — The Commonwealth Room — Salt Lake City, UT

Friday, February 28 — Washington’s — Fort Collins, CO

Thursday, March 19 — The Sinclair — Boston, MA

Friday, March 20 — Brooklyn Bowl — Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, March 21 — Brooklyn Bowl — Brooklyn, NY

Thursday, March 26 — Terminal West — Atlanta, GA

Friday, March 27 — The Grey Eagle — Asheville, NC

Saturday, March 28 — Cat’s Cradle — Carrboro, NC

Friday, April 3 — Sleeping Village — Chicago, IL

Saturday, April 4 — SPACE — Evanston, IL

Friday, April 10 — Lee’s Palace — Toronto, ON

Saturday, April 11 — Lee’s Palace — Toronto, ON

Friday, April 17 — Theatre of The Living Arts — Philadelphia, PA

January 18, 2020
Wale Proves Everything is Fine at Brooklyn Steel

Ever since Washington D.C. based rapper Wale released his debut album Attention Deficit in 2009, he’s had a steady output of biennial records. In October of 2019, Wale out put his latest release, Wow… That’s Crazy, on Warner Records and has been touring behind it ever since. The ‘Wow… That’s Crazy‘ tour made its way to Brooklyn Steel on January 15, with support from Yowda and DJ Money.

Wale opened the show with one of his biggest hits – “Lotus Flower Bomb,” off his sophomore release Ambition. Miguel’s opening verse on the track served as Wale’s introduction on stage, and the capacity crowd burst out with energy. They were in full-throat the entire show, singing along to every track without missing a single beat. The fans that showed up Wednesday night spared no moment to express their admiration for Wale and his music.

Wale was in firm command of the stage and kept the energy at a high level the entire show. Emphatically bouncing back and forth across the stage, he frequently allowed the fans to sing over his beats, creating a very engaging and intimate performance. Wale’s music attracts people of all ages and backgrounds and that was confirmed just by looking around. In the security pit alone there were young teens, boomer-aged adults and even a group of uniformed NYPD who came inside to catch a bit of the show themselves.

Wale at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

The show concluded with the track “On Chill” off Wow… That’s Crazy, allowing Wale to display his rap talents one more time before saying good night. This is the second leg of the tour behind the new record and shows continue through the end of February with the last stop at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI.

January 18, 2020
Brooklyn Podcast Festival invades NYC Next Week Jan. 22-26.

The third ever Brooklyn Podcast Festival, produced by City Farm Presents, will be held next week, January 22-26, 2020 in Brooklyn. Featuring more than 15 podcasts over five days, the festival will be hosted between three venues – The Bell House, Union Hall, and BRIC House.

The 2020 Brooklyn Podcast Festival features established, as well as up-and-coming shows, including: An Evening With Osiris, Featuring Goose with hosts Phish songwriter, Tom Marshall and RJ Bee; The Bowery Boys hosted by Thomas Meyers and Gregory Young; The Bechdel Cast with Jamie Loftus & Caitlin Durante; Secret Keepers Club hosted by Girl Code’s Carly Aquilino and Netflix’s Emma Willmann; as well as NPR’s Ask Me Another with hosts Ophira Eisenberg and “in-house musician” Jonathan Coulton with their special guest, HBO’s Ben Sinclair.

Visit City Farm Presents for tickets and more info.

January 18, 2020
William Prince is Positively Brilliant in Rochester

Prince, William. That’s one of the hardest working commas you will see, and this isn’t a post about drama with the British Royals. Juno-winning singer-songwriter, William Prince, sprinkled plenty more punctuation throughout his two-set show for Honest Folk at Restaurant Good Luck in Rochester, on Monday night.

It started with a question mark. “Does anyone know who I am?” he asked in singsong banter before opening the night with “Young,” a song he wrote only two days prior. “Yours are the first human ears to hear that song,” he remarked. It was an unusual start for a musician who is touring ahead of his sophomore album release, due out February 8. But Prince would prove to be someone who plays by his own rules. He opened the second set with another new one written within the last two months.

After an album is created he just continues to write new music, he explained. It isn’t surprising. The man is oozing music. Songs drifted in and out of each other with ellipses. His banter was sung, spoken over a picked guitar, or both, and was as engaging as the very personal, emotionally attached music. It served to enhance the songs meaning, bring the crowd into his life and turned an already intimate show into virtually one-on-one conversations with each audience member.

Many incredible words were bracketed by quotation marks throughout the night, both in song and out: from the funny, “if you have marijuana, meet me outside at the break,” to the wise, “You can sit in a garage all you want, but you’ll never turn into a car.” Or the insightful, “Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood, and where there’s blood there’s pain.”

Prince’s rich voice, fluid guitar picking, and the tenor of his songs, combined for a sound that sat squarely in the most traditional folk music. Unlike much from the genre, his lyrics found optimism, hope and love in even the darkest times. So much of his writing centered on the love of family, his parents, partners, and his son.

Songs of his parents became songs about his parenthood, songs of his childhood became songs about his child. Passed down like his heritage as descendant of First Nations people in Canada. Songs about his departed father weren’t steeped in sadness, but concentrated more in loving memory. Even songs about his ex were happy and loving. He preferred not to dwell in the negative, putting positive spins on some of the lower points in life and simple misunderstandings alike.

The show-opening question mark was answered with a resounding exclamation point by show’s end, with multiple standing ovations and a mutual admiration from musician and audience.

Honest Folk might be batting 1.000 when it comes to eliciting an expression of amazement from the artist upon announcing the next show. And so it was with the announcement that Joe Pug would be playing Good Luck February 17. Early bird tickets are on sale now.

January 17, 2020