NYS Music 202​0

Category: Rock

  • Premiere: In 2020 And Beyond, Added Color Yearn For “Something Better”

    In a year where things can’t seem to get any worse, Added Color provides a rare hopeful vision. The Brazilian-American Brooklyn rock band returns with their new song “Something Better,” the lead single for their upcoming November EP, If You Had It All.

    “Something Better” impressively tackles a myriad of problems plaguing Western culture without skimping on any of them. Using topical slogans like “resist” and “I can’t breathe,” it sounds like a socially conscious mosh pit. The accompanying lyric video complements the song with a staticky aesthetic, depicting this year’s protests, inedible fast food, and corrupt politicians. But despite including the likes of Donald Trump and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, Added Color believes these presidents merely personify deep-rooted societal issues:

    We feel that the greed, corruption, and cruelty that is embodied by world leaders such as Trump and Bolsonaro is a symptom of something that’s been decaying for quite a while now. A lot of people are depressed; a depressing amount of people are addicted to drugs. Police brutality is a massive issue—it seems we hear a new heart-wrenching tale of senseless loss of life on a daily basis. Access to decent healthcare is a nightmare for millions of people in what is supposed to be the richest country in the world. Fast food franchises reign supreme; it’s a challenge to eat decently in a lot of places.

    added color

    It all amounts to a huge macro need for Something Better. The capitalization is not just because it’s the name of a song. It’s an idea for another world: one that we all deserve, and one that we can create together.” Of course, the song’s bridge decides that “Something Better starts with you.

    “Something Better” precedes Added Color’s November EP, If You Had It All. The band is releasing the EP through Damp Interactive, in partnership with global distributor Symphonic Distribution. Recorded and produced by Johann Meyer (Gojira, Mastodon, Shinedown) and Jamie Uertz (Blind Melon) in Brooklyn, guitarist and vocalist Kiko Freiberg says If You Had It All is “darker, more political, and more powerful” than past projects. Drummer and singer Daniel Freiberg elaborates:

    “The EP attacks the ‘free world’ as a society designed for failure, where corporations and government work hand in hand to thrive off the backs of the oppressed. Unfortunately, it took a pandemic to make the world pay attention to the societal diseases that plague our revered ‘Western Society.’ It’s time to make a change.”

    Added Color has played in over 25 states as well as internationally. They’ve toured in Morocco five times, including at the 2019 L’Boulevard Festival, and played at some of Brazil’s biggest music festivals. Since the pandemic has stopped them from touring, they’ve instead planned live performances online. Every Tuesday at 3:00 P.M. ET, the band streams their “Chevy Expressions” series on Instagram Live.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CESO8ZHDjns/

    Stream “Something Better” here, and visit Added Color’s website for more information.

  • Tom Petty Estate share “Wildflowers” homerecording, album reissue date

    The estate of the late Tom Petty has released the solo demo version of his classic track “Wildflowers (Home Recording).” The video premieres alongside a video featuring never before seen footage of Tom at his home, shot by Martyn Atkins during the recording of Wildflowers.

    Thanks to commitment from his family, bandmates and collaborators, many who helped unearth previously unheard gems, help to fulfill Tom’s vision of this project is becoming a reality.

    You can pre-order the long-awaited reissue and comprehensive collection Wildflowers & All The Rest now, which will be released on October 16.

    Petty Legacy – Adria, Annakim and Dana Petty – shared the following statement upon the announcement of the album’s reissue:

    We are so excited to announce that we will finally be releasing Wildflowers and its long anticipated second album All The Rest, Tom’s solo masterpiece and first collaboration with Rick Rubin as co-producer.

    Curating this project was a beautiful experience for us. We’re releasing the collection as Tom envisioned along with a number of additions exploring the two year writing and recording process and live performances of songs from Tom and the Heartbreakers over the years.

    We found so many incredible unreleased demos, versions of songs, notes, lyrics, and film reels in our archives. We look forward to sharing a number of special goodies with you all.

    In this intimidating endeavor we continued to work alongside Tom’s trusted bandmates and team: Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Rick Rubin and Ryan Ulyate as well as Mary Klauzer and Alan “Bugs” Weidel, to lovingly curate each disc and keep it as close to what we believe “rings true” to what Tom would have wanted. We are so grateful to them for their unique knowledge.
    We hope you find joy and inspiration in this music and the magical world Tom created.

    We are honored to steward the warmth he shared through his music and relationship with fans.

    We hope you find it uplifting and love it as much as we do.

  • Start Making Sense to Perform at Jericho Drive-In

    Start Making Sense announced their plans to perform at the Jericho Drive-In Glenmont, NY on August 28, 2020 at 7PM. The show will follow social distancing guidelines with attendees staying in their cars and will be followed by a showing of the film The Big Lebowski at 9PM.

    Start Making Sense is a Talking heads tribute band that even Bernie Worrel, the keyboardist for Talking Heads and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, thinks the band does a great job recreating the Talking Heads’ music. Worrel said, “To all you listeners… This is an appropriate title — Start Making Sense. This band makes plenty of sense to me, and is a great representation of Talking Heads’ music. So listen up and go check them out!” 

    Tickets are on sale now here and include three different tiers of pricing according to the tiers of parking. Advance pricing on the first three rows will cost $80 a car load. Rows four through six are for sale for $70 a car load with the advance pricing. And lastly rows seven through thirteen will cost $60 per car load with the advance pricing. Each car load can have up to four people at that price with an additional $10 more per person over 4 to be paid at the gate. Day of show pricing is an additional $10 more per vehicle. Doors open at 6PM. 

    For more information on Start Making Sense visit their website. For more information on the show visit the Jericho Drive-In’s website. 

  • Bardavon Pays Tribute To Bob Dylan’s ‘Highway 61 Revisited’

    The Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie has temporarily closed its doors, but the music is still coming. Their “Albums Revisited” streaming series will resume on Sunday, August 30 at 8:00 p.m., with a tribute to Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited. Known as Dylan’s first true rock album, the tribute falls on Highway 61’s 55th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, Bardavon’s Production Manager Stephen LaMarca has curated a setlist of artists to perform each of its nine songs. While the event will be broadcast on Bardavon Presents’ YouTube for free, they’re accepting donations for People’s Place in Kingston and Dutchess Outreach in Poughkeepsie.

    Dylan Highway 61

    The full list of performances includes:

    • “Like a Rolling Stone” – Jack DeJohnette & John Medeski
    • “Tombstone Blues” – The Weight Band
    • “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” – Jimmy Vivino, Rich Pagano & John Sebastian
    • “From a Buick 6” – Guy Davis
    • “Ballad of a Thin Man” – Steve Earle
    • “Queen Jane Approximately” – Lucinda Williams
    • “Highway 61 Revisited” – Kate Pierson w/ The Restless Age
    • “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” – Happy Traum w/ special guests
    • “Desolation Row” – Simone Felice
    • “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window” – Laura Stevenson

    The event will also feature commentary from Bardavon’s Executive Director Chris Silva, as well as others. 

    Bardavon Presents’ next “Albums Revisited” installment is at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, where they’ll celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty. They’ll also be streaming a Hudson Valley Philharmonic virtual concert hall at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, as well as a live DJ set at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8.

    For more information regarding this stream and future shows, go to Bardavon’s website.

  • Utica Indie-Rocker Cait Devin Gains Attention

    Cait Devin is an 18 year old indie/alt pop/rock singer-songwriter from Utica. Although young, this self-described “strummer and shredder” is musically and creatively talented. Cait currently is an independent artist, but recently released her first album and has collaborated with several other artists. 

    Cait Devin

    Cait tells NYS Music, “I’ve been singing my whole life, but picked up an acoustic guitar in my mid teens. I began playing lead guitar two and a half years ago and ever since, I’ve spent a lot of my time diving into it more.” Her album, Cait Devin (Unplugged), is entirely acoustic; however, she still spends a lot of time with her electric guitar. 

    Cait says that “just keep playing” has been her motivational mantra since the start of her career, and she has not disappointed herself. Despite her young age, she “has written hundreds of songs.” When she was just 16, she was a SAMMY’s People’s Choice Award finalist before even having a record out. She won “Extrodinary Talent of the Week” in Syracuse, and, later that year, released her first EP, “Gemini Rising.” Soon after, she booked a tour in Nashville.

    Cait frequently uploads original songs and covers of various artists online and proves to have a wide range of talent. She’s covered The Cranberries, MGMT, The Beatles, Slipknot, and more. She’s covered so many artists that she “wouldn’t be able to pick” her favorite. She even remixes famous songs and themes, making them entirely her own. She has entire playlists of covers and originals on YouTube available for free. 

    Cait writes about her own experiences, saying she draws inspiration from life. “I take random inspiration here and there and just write about it,” she comments. “Some of my influences for my songwriting include Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Grimes, and the Weeknd. As far as my lead playing goes, I would say players like Nita Strauss and Steve Vai.” The great variation in her top influential artists perfectly shows how Cait’s music style and skill are so adaptable. She can blow audiences away with soft acoustic pieces but still shred like a pro. Her powerful and emotional vocals shine brightly in every piece she writes or covers.

    Although a young independent artist, Cait’s talent is attracting attention. She’s performed at different venues, and recently went live on the News 12 Facebook page and played two songs from her album, and has previously been featured on top NY radio stations. She has over 2k subscribers on YouTube, and more than 8k followers on Facebook. She’s collabed with Jared Dines, Hiram Hernandez, and more, and recently appeared on the single “Unbroken” by Michael Angelo Batio, along with Vinnie Moore and Andy James. She also has a new, big “shred collab” project in the works, but can’t say much about it. Be sure to follow her for updates!

    Cait Devin (Unplugged) is available for purchase or streaming, and she has more singles and EPs available on Spotify. Follow her on (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to stay up to date on all of her content.

  • Watch performances from Day 3 of Woodstock 1969

    At noon on August 17, 1969, the crowd at Woodstock had dwindled slightly, but roughly 90% of attendees responded favorably to Hugh Romney (best known as Wavy Gravy) who woke the crowd up, saying:

    Good morning! What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000. Now, it’s gonna be good food and we’re going to get it to you. It’s not just the Hog Farm, either. It’s everybody. We’re all feedin’ each other. We must be in heaven, man! There’s always a little bit of heaven in a disaster area.

    Now there’s a guy up there – some hamburger guy – that had his stand burned down last night. But he’s still got a little stuff left, and for you people that still believe capitalism isn’t that weird, you might help him out and buy a couple hamburgers.

    Wavy Gravy, as told in Robert Spitz’ Barefoot in Babylon

    The Hog Farm then distributed plates of cold mush, while a hippie known as Muskrat, read the front page of the Sunday New York Times to “the hippest brunch this side of Fifth Avenue.”

    woodstock watch

    The first two days of Woodstock had the appearances of a tremendous success, especially for fans and observers. The unsung heroes working the show were dealing with any issue that came to them – rain, mud, delays, making sure food and clean water were available, and keeping the show running.

    Sunday though, there were the inevitable issues that arise from a three day music festival. Bathrooms were overflowing, and fans were taking to cornfields and the backyards of locals in Bethel to relieve themselves. There were emergency medical issues that needed to be addressed, but roads were blocked. Helicopters attempted to airlift those in the greatest need, but lack of fuel made it difficult to get them to the proper hospital. A helicopter at Grossinger’s was on site at Yasgur’s within 10 minutes of a call to handle a victim of alcohol poisoning.

    sunday woodstock watch

    Joe Cocker kicked the day off at 2pm with a career-defining performance. Woodstock promoter Artie Kornfeld is reported by Spitz to have ‘humped a motorcycle in time to “Delta Lady,” and wept uncontrollably into his arm.

    This is just great! Outta sight! Oh man, look what we’ve done, look what we’ve done. This is forever

    Artie Kornfeld, as told in Robert Spitz’ Barefoot in Babylon

    But the joy was shortlived. A huge storm barrelled towards the festival grounds, and stage was covered in tarps as Cocker and his band retreated. Having yelled into the microphone for everyone to get away from the towers, John Morris changed his tone and approached the rain differently, saying to the crowd, “If you think really hard enough, maybe we can stop this rain!” A chant of “No rain, No rain, No rain” started in the crowd and built up, to the point where even though the stage itself was sliding in the mud, but fans were dancing in the rain and playing in the mud, the iconic imagery associated with Woodstock still today.

    While the storm blew through in 20 minutes, the stage that had slid six inches downhill was restrained so the show could continue. Max Yasgur, the landowner who hosted a few hundred thousand hippies that weekend, was asked by Mel Lawrence and Michael Lang to say a few words to the crowd. Eagerly, Yasgur, who reveled in how nice and police the kids were, took to the stage with encouragement from Lawrence and Lang. Master of Ceremonies Chip Monck introduced Yasgur to the crowd saying “This is the man whose farm we’re on – Mr. Max Yasgur.” Monck stepped back and let Yasgur addressed the crowd, saying:

    I’m a farmer. I don’t know how to speak to twenty people at one time let alone a crowd like this. This is the largest group of people ever assembled in one place, but I think you people have proven something to the world – that a half a million kids can get together and have three days of fun and music and have nothing but fun and music. And I god bless you for it!

    Max Yasgur, as told in Robert Spitz’ Barefoot in Babylon

    Music would restart around 5pm with Country Joe & the Fish (the only act to perform twice that weekend) and Ten Years Later followed at 8pm. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young left the stage at 6AM, and Sha Na Na followed. Jimi Hendrix would not take the stage until 8:30AM Monday morning, performing to only 30,000 who were determined to stick it out. The historic “Star Spangled Banner,” followed by “Taps,” would cement his place, and Woodstock’s, in music history.

    Watch a performance from the nine artists who performed at Woodstock on August 17 and well into the morning of August 18, 1969

    Joe Cocker

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfLyK2DVVUU

    Country Joe & The Fish

    Ten Years After

    Johnny Winter

    Blood Sweat and Tears

    Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-azgwfnZu7c

    Paul Butterfield Blues Band

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

    Sha Na Na

    Jimi Hendrix

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFLy8eGtSYo

    Watch performances from every Woodstock artist with our full playlist

  • Jimkata Debuts New Single Reflecting on Sensation of Hanging in Limbo

    Jimkata, to the excitement of their fans, debuted their new single “Wait For You” on August 13, 2020. The band recently came out of the woodworks last month dropping their single “Wanna Go” after the band went on an indefinite hiatus back in 2017. 

    The new single focuses on the feeling of being in limbo. It narrates the feeling of sitting around waiting and feeling restless while navigating uncertainty which is a feeling many can relate to during the pandemic era. The music video accompanying the song was created by animator Ben Clarkson. His animation brings further depth and dimension to the notion of waiting and being in limbo. “Wait For You” isn’t just a heartbreak inspired pop song, it is also a commentary on helplessly waiting and hoping for the world to get itself together.

    Frontman of Jimkata Evan Friedell shared some of his insights behind the new single saying, “I didn’t realize at the time I wrote it how prescient and universal that feeling would become as we experience a global pandemic and a world in chaos.”   

    The band Jimkata is a three-piece anthemic, synth-washed, electro-rock band that is based out of Ithaca, NY and Los Angeles, CA. Jimkata is known for their swirling analog synths, infectious pop hooks and candid lyrics. The band has built a distinct sound which has been resonating with listeners across the country. The band has a strong and loyal grassroots fanbase created by their relentless performing across the country before their Hiatus. 

    For more information on Jimkata and to check out “Wait For You” visit their website.

  • Watch performances from Day 2 of Woodstock

    Friday left the crowd exhausted, but looking for more. A motionless field was peppered with life around 8AM, hippies making friends with neighbors as they awoke, ahead of the second day of Woodstock.

    woodstock

    According to Robert Spitz’s Barefoot in Babylon, Director of Operations Mel Lawrence, would wake the crowd up with a rousing “GGOOOOOD MOOOR-NINGGG” followed by:

    Sorry about that. Let’s try that one again. Good Morning. Thank You. Listen, last night was incredible, and we just wanted to let you know that everything’s okay. No hassles. We’re going to have another groovy day today and into the night and tomorrow.

    I just need your help with one small favor. We’re going to pass out these bags now so that we can keep our home clean. We’ll hand them out to those of you on this side of the bowl, and I’d appreciate it if all of you over there will toss your junk in and pass the bag on until it gets over to the other side of the field. Some of the guys from the Peace Service Corps will pick them up over there and get rid of that stuff for tyou.

    We’ve gotta keep this place liveable so we can prove to the rest of the world that we can make it to together in peace and comfort. And we’re gonna do it too.

    Mel Lawrence, with intermittent cheers from a quickly awoken crowd.

    A day of heavy-hitters would perform on Saturday, including The Who, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Santana among them.

    Santana’s appearance has always been regarded as one of the highlights of the festival. According to Spitz, with 92′ heat and 97% humidity, the bowl had turned into a sauna, and emotions, fueled by boredom from early performances from Quill, Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian, and Keef Hartley Band, were heating up. Santana jolted the crowd to their feet, making his mark on the festival and providing an electrifying bridge to the rest of that day’s performers.

    The Who would not perform until 3:30AM on Sunday, playing well into the morning. The set was famously interrupted by activist Abbie Hoffman who stormed the stage to say:

    This festival is meaningless as long as John Sinclair’s rotting in prison!

    Abbie Hoffman at Woodstock

    Hoffman was dispatched from the stage by Pete Townshend, who used his guitar to escort Hoffman into the photographer’s pit.

    Jefferson Airplane hit the stage at 8:30AM on Sunday, with a set that paralleed the exhausted corowd. Much of the audience was passed out even as the hits “Volunteers” and “Somebody to Love” rounded out the set. At 10AM on Sunday, the music would take a break, for a few hours.

    Watch performances from 13 of the 14 artists who performed at Woodstock on August 15, 1969.

    Quill

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfH18WqJuY8

    Country Joe McDonald

    John B. Sebastian

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnsB4Ck__OE

    Keef Hartley Band

    Allegedly, Hartley’s manager demanded payment up front for the rights to record or film the band. Thus, they were never included in any Woodstock footage until 2019, when the full Woodstock set was released.

    Santana

    Incredible String Band

    Canned Heat

    Grateful Dead

    Leslie West & Mountain

    Creedence Clearwater Revival

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75VQp8iGNF0

    Janis Joplin

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h66qXAK-q3o

    Sly and the Family Stone

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fZBaPS_XvQ

    The Who

    Jefferson Airplane

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QAF2qF4wHU

    Watch performances from every Woodstock artist with our full playlist

  • Discover Local Music With EQXposure Featured Artists Including Lucas Garrett And More

    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. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear music from Lucas Garrett, Matt Bosson, Magic Trash Party, and many more!

    EQXposure

    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. 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.

    Lucas Garrett – “All Around Me“

    The singer/guitarist hails from Upstate NY and continues to meld styles like progressive rock, folk, classic rock, and indie with every new song. He’s performed all over the capital region at coffee houses and reputable venues including Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, Little Theater on the Farm in Fort Edward, Charles Wood in Downtown Glens Falls, and Hudson River Music Hall just to name a few. He’s remained busy recording new material since the release of his debut EP Evening’s Come, But It’s Not Dark and you can expect the same steady output in 2020. This is just one of more songs to come and if you want to know who’s on what, just take a look below.  

    Matt Bosson – “From Outer Space“

    This is a friend and former classmate of Tred’s. You know. Tred? From Every Other Tuesday With Tred. On Early EQX? Well, anyway they used to hang out in the Berkshires and now Matt Bosson is making sweet, sweet music in Los Angeles California. He’s spent some time as a singer/songwriter in multiple bands ranging in genres like punk and alt country. Most recently he has been releasing his most personal and unusual music as a solo artist.  

    Magic Trash Party – “Other Flowers“

    Magic Trash Party hails from Windham, NY and they are going for a ’40s-’60s classic pop vibe on this one. If you want to find out more about them like I did you can check out their Facebook page where their bio says they are a “Rock and Pop band from Upstate NY.” Yup. That’s all it says. With a name like Magic Trash Party, who needs details? The magic is in the mystery.  

  • Flashback: Watch performances from Day 1 of Woodstock 1969

    The historic Woodstock Music and Art Festival took place 51 years ago this weekend in Bethel, NY in 1969. Billed as “an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music,” promoters Michael Lang and Artie Kornfeld brought together an all-time classic lineup of artists that spanned genres and put an exclamation point on a decade of change.

    Much has been written on the festival, and the (pre-COVID) thriving music festival scene in America owes a debt to the original Woodstock, adding a festival (and city name) to our collective lexicon and providing a template by which to measure all future music festivals.

    Woodstock 1969

    With today marking the anniversary of the first day of Woodstock, revisit performances from the eight artists who took the stage, including Richie Havens, who hurriedly took to the stage when Sweetwater was held up arriving to the site by helicopter.

    When asked by Lang to perform earlier than planned, Havens was initially resistant, thinking that he couldn’t get ready in time. With encouragement from John Morris, and learning that Tim Hardin was “scared shitless” to open the festival, Havens laughed and said,

    What can I say? OK, give me a couple minutes to get ready and to round up the rest of the group. I’ll do it.

    Richie Havens

    The stage crew was alerted and at 5:01pm, and once sound was set, Morris strode to the stage and announced,

    Well, it’s time for the music to begin. Let’s welcome, Mr. Richie Havens”

    John Morris

    And with that, the greatest music festival ever was off and running into the history books. Watch a performance from each of the eight artists who performed at Woodstock on August 15, 1969

    Richie Havens

    Sweetwater

    Bert Sommer

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA-NPCq_Jd8

    Tim Hardin

    Ravi Shankar

    Melanie

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr2l9inAryQ

    Arlo Guthrie

    Joan Baez

    Watch performances from every Woodstock artist with our full playlist