NYS Music 202​0

Category: Genres

  • Brooklyn’s Nicole Mercedes shares Dream-Pop single “Stoop”

    Nicole Mercedes, the Brooklyn-based dream-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, has shared the debut single “Stoop” from her sophomore album Look Out Where You’re Going, due in April 2020.

    Mercedes tells Atwood Magazine about the meaning of the track, saying, “This is a song about embracing the feeling of loneliness, about those summer nights where all you’re looking for is a distraction, and a rotating door of friends and strangers to drink with, talk with, make out with. The stoop is my favorite place to do that because things are constantly happening around you and you can kind of just sit there drinking some wine in your slippers, passively being a part of the landscape.”

    The forthcoming album is a collaboration with producer Joe Rogers (Laura Stevenson, Rubblebucket) and Deer Tick’s Andy T. Mercedes performs all compositions and arrangements on the LP, and with Rogers has created a sound that is both equally pop and haunting all at once. Mercedes’ previous projects include Debbie Downer and Flocke, but her solo endeavor sets forth a whole new era of lush, cinematic, sex-positive, feminist, self-aware songs.

    Mercedes performs next at The Sultan Room on March 19 in Brooklyn. Get tickets here.

  • The Great South Bay Music Festival Announces 2020 Lineup

    The Great South Bay Music Festival announced their 2020 lineup which will include performances from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Rebelution, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and many more. The festival will take place from July 16-19 across five stages and will include 75 performances. 

    The festival will be celebrating its 14th anniversary at Shorefront Park in Patchogue, NY and will consist of classic and contemporary rock, folk, blues, indy, jam-band, pop, prog, Americana, country, reggae, and funk music. The festival also has a new partnership with Blue Point Brewing Co. The new beverage sponsor will be serving up a wide assortment of their most popular brands, as well as some new “Exclusive Festival” brands to watch out for. 

    Both Friday and Saturday have a loose daily theme. Friday is the rock-reggae-ska day with headliner Rebelution, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (who are returning for their second appearance at Great South Bay), Pepper, Sublime Tribute: Badfish, and Oogee Wawa. And Saturday is the jam band day with headliner one of The Grateful Dead’s most proud and popular tributes: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, moe. and Vulfpeck guitarist, composer and producer: Cory Wong. Great South Bay will close on Sunday with the highly anticipated Tedeschi Trucks Wheels of Soul Tour, featuring the full 13-piece band playing a rocking two hour set. There will also be performances by St. Paul & The Broken Bones, as well as Nashville-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Dixon.

    The festival opens on Thursday, July 16 at 3 pm and runs until 10 pm. On Friday, July 17, doors open at 3 pm and music will go until 11 pm. On Saturday, July 18, doors open at 1 pm and close at 11 pm. And the festival will wrap up on Sunday, July 19 with doors opening at 2 pm and finishing up at 10 pm. For more information and to purchase tickets visit The Great South Bay Music Festival’s website.

  • Heart’s Lead Singer Ann Wilson Announces Solo Tour

    After touring with rock band Heart for the better part of 2019 for the first time in three years, front woman Ann Wilson has released the dates for the first part of a soul tour, the Ann Wilson of Heart 2020 Tour. The three-week stint is set to have 16 stops, two of which will be in New York. First, on May 4 at The Paramount in Huntington and a show on May 6 at The Egg in Albany.

    Fans will get a chance to hear many songs from the extensive Heart catalog along with Wilson’s own solo projects over the years like Hope & Glory (2007) The Ann Wilson Thing (2015) and, most recently, a special covers album, Immortal (2018) .

    Ann Wilson on Jimmy Kimmel Live 2017

    With Wilson taking lead as singer and lyricist, over the past 40 years Heart has sold 35 million records worldwide. In 2013, she was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

    Tickets are on sale now on her website.

    Ann Wilson of Heart 2020 Tour

    Apr. 30 – Bergen PAC – Englewood, NJ
    May 1 – Foxwoods Casino – Mashantucket, CN
    May 3 – Tupelo Music Hall – Derry, NJ
    May 4 – Paramount Theater – Huntington, NY
    May 6 – Egg Performing Arts – Albany, N.Y.
    May 7 – Chevalier Theater – Medford, MA
    May 9 – Hard Rock – Atlantic City, NJ
    May 10 – Maryland Hall For Creative Arts – Annapolis, MD
    May 12 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
    May 13 – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts – Wilkes Barre, PA
    May 15 – Stage AE, Benefit – Pittsburgh, PA
    May 16 – Caesars – Elizabeth, IN
    May 18 – Arcadia Theatre – St. Charles, IL
    May 20 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
    May 21 – MGM Northfield – Northfield, OH
    July 31 – California Mid-State Fair * – Paso Robles, CA
    *festival appearance

  • In Focus: JRAD At The Cap 2/21/20

    Grateful Dead cover band heavyweight champions Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) continue their reign at a legendary venue with three nights at the historic Capitol Theatre, starting on Friday, February 21, 2020 (2/21/20)

    • JRAD 2/21/20
    • JRAD 2/21/20
    • JRAD 2/21/20

  • Kamasi Washington Delivers Jazz Master Class at Kings Theatre

    Kamasi Washington and his band came through Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre this week as part of his latest round of winter tour dates. Although there has not been new music since 2018s critically acclaimed double LP, Heaven and Earth, Kamasi just released a film, Kamasi Washington Live at the Apollo Theater, on Amazon Prime Video. The live film was recorded at Kamasi’s show at the Harlem theater on February 23, 2019.

    Watch the excerpt for “Street Fighter Mas” HERE.
    Kamasi Washington Kings Theatre
    Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The show opened with a short R&B and Soul DJ set from Natasha Diggs. Natasha paid homage to many late artists with her set; music filled the room as fans filed into their seats. The setting was a perfect fit for Kamasi’s music, and the first thing he said when the band took the stage was in admiration the beautiful theater.

    Kamasi Washington Kings Theatre
    Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Flanked by two drum sets, Kamasi stood center stage and dove straight into “Street Fighter Mas” from Heaven and Earth. When the band plays live, they tend to only play five or six songs, but extend them with solos and improvs to fill a nearly two-hour set. Both drummers took their turn during the show, delivering very different drum solos, accompanied by two separate solos on upright bass.

    After the first song, Kamasi introduced his father, Rickey Washington, on stage who continued to play flute and soprano saxophone for the rest of the night. The father and son stood side by side. The chemistry between them could be felt across the theater.

    Kamasi Washington Kings Theatre
    Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The main set ended with a lengthy rendition of “Fists of Fury,” which featured soaring vocals from singer Patrice Quinn. There were several movements during the performance of this track, but the final solo of the night was reserved for Kamasi on tenor. The man is a master on the saxophone and his solo ended with a standing ovation from the audience, followed by a reprise of the epic conclusion. It was the most powerful moment, ending the show with a thunderous finish.

    Kamasi Washington Kings Theatre
    Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    In addition to the live film, Kamasi released the stand alone track “The Bombshell’s Waltz,” earlier this month also on Amazon Music. The band is just beginning this stretch of live dates, which continue across North America until a final show on March 12 in San Antonio – see the full itinerary HERE.

  • David Byrne’s ‘American Utopia’ will return to Broadway later this year

    David Byrne’s American Utopia will return to Broadway for a second engagement, beginning September 18, 2020 and lasting for a 17-week run, ending in January 2021. The most recent run, which was held at Hudson Theatre in Manhattan, saw the curtain close on Sunday, February 16.

    Based on Byrne’s 2018 album, American Utopia opened in October 2019, with Byrne joined by an 11-piece ensemble playing songs from the album, his solo material and Talking Heads works alike. 

    “It’s become obvious to us in the band, the crew and the producer team that audiences want, dare I say need, to see this show,” said Byrne. “They’re not ready to have it disappear just yet. We feel the same way, we love doing this show. So, it’s thrilling to us that we can announce that we’ll be back in September.”

    The producers of the show shared Byrne’s sentiments. “It has been a joy to bring American Utopia to Broadway. David Byrne is one of our greatest living artists and it’s cause for celebration that he has made his Broadway debut with this brilliant production. We have been blown away by the range of audiences of all ages and backgrounds who have come to see American Utopia.”

    For those unable to make the shows later this year, Spike Lee has announced that he will direct a filmed version of American Utopia. And later this month, Byrne is set to appear as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on February 29, alongside host John Mulaney. 

    For more information on the return to Broadway of American Utopia, visit americanutopiabroadway.com

  • Brooklyn Rapper Pop Smoke Murdered In Home Invasion Robbery

    Brooklyn native Pop Smoke, was killed in Los Angeles early Wednesday morning according to a report from Rolling Stone. A representative from the Los Angeles Police department confirmed that they responded to a 911 call around 4:30 this morning to find Pop Smoke shot. Pop Smoke was rushed to an area hospital were upon arrival he was pronounced dead, he was only 20.

    Pop Smoke Murdered

    Even though several people were questioned at the scene, no arrests have been made as of early Wednesday morning. Up to six people are sought in connection with his death, police said. The nearly 3,000-square-foot home on which the alleged home robbery took place is a rental property reportedly owned by Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, daughter of John Mellencamp and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

    Pop Smoke’s death comes after his new mixtape, Meet the Woo 2, made its debut at number eight in the Rolling Stone albums charts. Meet the Woo 2 was released earlier this month and was a accumulation of collaborations from this past summer with other trending rappers such as Travis Scott, Lil Tjay and Calboy. The mixtape was received well by fans, with already 37 million streams.

    Born as Bashar Jackson in Brooklyn, New York, Pop Smoke was living the dream as he went from a unknown artists to the next-up in a span of months. Last year in April he released a hypnotic song titled “Welcome to the Party”. He quickly earned a major label deal with Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records. The hit has since had 80 million streams and an official remix with superstar Nicki Minaj. Minaj took to Instagram earlier to give her condolences on Pop Smoke’s early demise.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8wKzSGnCP0/

    The rapper’s rise to fame has been scattered with hardships since last October. Rolling Stone had reported that Pop Smoke and a slew of other local rappers were scheduled perform at the New York festival Rolling Loud but were demanded by police to be removed from the lineup in a letter that “if these individuals are allowed to perform, there will be a higher risk of violence.” He was also arrested in January after allegedly transporting a Rolls Royce, worth $375,000, from California to New York.

    We will continue to update as the story develops.

    Pop Smoke performs “Welcome to the Party” in LIC Queens

  • The Bad Plus Announce 2020 Spring Tour, Including Multi- Show Residency in New York City

    The American jazz trio The Bad Plus confirmed their 2020 spring tour following the release of their second album, ACTIVATE INFINITY, which was released in October of 2019. The spring tour will include a multi-show residency at Village Vanguard in New York City for six consecutive days.

    The tour will begin on March 19th in  Kenosha, WI at the Bedford Concert Hall and will wrap up on April 12th in Washington, DC at the Blues Alley. The tour will include multi- show residencies not only in New York City but also in Oakland, CA and Washington, D.C. as well. The New York City residency is taking place at the Village Vanguard on March 24th through the 29th. The Oakland, CA residency will take place at Yoshi’s on April 3rd and 4th. Washington’s residency will take place at the Blues Alley on April 10th through the 12th. 

    The Bad Plus is made up of bassist Reid Anderson, drummer Dave King, and pianist Orrin Evans, hailing from Minneapolis, MN. Their newest album ACTIVATE INFINITY was produced by The Bad Plus themselves and engineered and mixed by Andy Taub at NYC’s Brooklyn Recording back in May of 2019.

     For more information on The Bad Plus and their 2020 spring tour visit their website.

    The Bad Plus 2020 Spring Tour dates:

    March 19th – Kenosha, WI – Bedford Concert Hall

    March 21st – Hartford, CT – The Bushnell Performing Arts Center

    March 22nd – Rockport, MA – Rockport Music-Shalin Liu Performance Center

    March 24th – New York, NY – Village Vanguard (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm)

    March 25th – New York, NY – Village Vanguard (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm)

    March 26th – New York, NY – Village Vanguard (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm)

    March 27th – New York, NY – Village Vanguard (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm)

    March 28th – New York, NY – Village Vanguard (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm)

    March 29th – New York, NY – Village Vanguard (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm)

    March 31st – Seattle, WA – Triple Door 

    April 1st – Seattle, WA – Triple Door

    April 2nd – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre

    April 3rd – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm)

    April 4th – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s (7:30 pm & 9:30 pm)

    April 9th – Morgantown, WV – Lyell B. Clay Concert

    April 10th – Washington, DC – Blues Alley (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm)

    April 11th – Washington, DC – Blues Alley (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm)

    April 12th – Washington, DC – Blues Alley (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm)

  • Grey Fox Festival Announces Initial 2020 Lineup

    Calling all bluegrass fans! On Valentine’s Day, Grey Fox gave us a gift — its preliminary lineup for the 2020 festival.

    From July 15 – 19, fans from 30+ states and a dozen countries across the globe will meet on the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY — a hamlet in the Catskills — to enjoy this much anticipated, family-friendly event.

    Kicking off the lineup this year is Jerry Douglas — GRAMMY, CMA, and IBMA award winning artist, most notably known for his resonator and lap steel guitar skills. For three days (July 16-18) Douglas will perform alongside his own ensemble and various bluegrass icons.

    Photo courtesy of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival press release.

    Other artists who will grace the stage this summer include The Del McCoury Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Cape Breton favorites Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, 2020 Grammy winner for best bluegrass album Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, and many more. The excitement doesn’t end here, though — additional headliners will be announced in the near future.

    On top of the five-star lineup, entertainment can be found through road stories told by traditional bluegrass bands or by attending a gospel show on Sunday morning. Whether artists are performing on main stages, delivering intimate workshops, or moving listeners to get up and dance, Grey Fox is an experience not-to-be-missed for every generation.

    Tickets for this much-loved event are on sale now; for performance dates, artist links and more festival information, visit www.GreyFoxBluegrass.com or call 888.946.8495 or 315.404.5738.

  • Hearing Aide: Rhys Tivey releases latest single “Ready”

    In his new single “Ready,” Rhys Tivey captures loss and revival of self through the epiphany of love song simplicity and precision. Sober in its depth and playfulness, we taste a life after disappointment, the epiphany of renewal. The song narrates the journey of melting regret and defiance to avail oneself to new possibilities. Its January release references the New Year temperament of resolution and release of past griping.

    Rhys Tivey – Photo courtesy of Gramophone Media

    The track begins in a nostalgic vibe with Rhys’s sotto voce vocals accompanied by soft piano chords. As a minimal, driving beat drops in to counterbalance distant trumpets and alluring vocal pads, the song builds with hints of hope, before hitting a bridge of soaring yet contained chaos.  “Ready” is a triumphant glimpse at his upcoming album Unsteady, where the intimate undertakings of an artist simultaneously reveals past stories and tentatively persists towards the hope of new chapters. 

    Rhys is definitely on the “ones to watch” list, so plan on catching one of his shows in the future.  Rhys performs at prominent venues all around the Northeast and is currently in the works of an epic album release set to premiere in spring 2020. 

    You can stream “Ready” on all music platforms, and follow his social media: SPOTIFY / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER