NYS Music 202​0

Category: News Desk

  • Miserable Chillers Release Newest Single “Saga’s Sword” from ‘Audience of Summer’

    Alternative rock band Miserable Chillers debuted their third single, “Saga’s Sword,” off their upcoming album, Audience of Summer, out Friday, August 7.

    “The song really captures the feel of a curious young child exploring and actively pursuing new experiences, as Gallego even adds some ribbiting frogs and glimmering forest sounds to complement the track’s shiny guitar riffs and marimba-sounding percussion.”

    Look At My Records

    Bandleader Miguel Gallego grew up in suburban New Jersey, where he found his passion for music. He now lives in Brooklyn. He recorded and produced his latest tracks with Baby Blue Records, in New York.

    Album art for Miserable Chillers’ Audience of Summer.

    Miguel’s creativity and intuition came from the world wide pandemic caused by COVID-19. “I think of myself as a late bloomer, a lot of things have only recently started to appear obvious to me,” said Gallego.

    As a result, Fifty percent of the proceeds from digital purchases on Bandcamp will be donated to Bed-Stuy Strong. This is a group of over 3,000 people helping in the aid of their community during the COVID-19 crisis.

    I believe that in times of economic and public health crisis, and amidst the violent failures of state policy to address the needs of vulnerable communities, the necessity of local, communal responses to communal needs is especially acute. I would like to support a local mutual aid group. Bed-Stuy Strong centers on solidarity, care, and an imaginative approach addressing the needs of the community and neighborhood that I live in.

    Miguel Gallego – Bandleader

    Along with Gallego, artists from other bands contributed to the making of this album. Megan Braaten from Your Sister and Kabir Kumar of Sun Kin both sang backing vocals. While others like Sarah Goldfarb (Red Widow and Ovaeasy) played the cello. Together, they created the baroque pop sounds of the new record, exactly how is described as.

    Audience of Summer is out Friday, August 7.

    Miserable Chiller’s newest single “Saga’s Sword”.

    Mutual aid provides an alternative model for addressing need; and we badly need to embrace and imagine alternatives to our preexisting methods—be it the police, punitive and carceral responses to harm, or how we as a society provide for the healthcare of our neighbors.

    Miguel Gallego – Bandleader

  • Jimkata Returns From Hiatus With New Song “Wanna Go”

    Jimkata returned from their indefinite hiatus with the new song “Wanna Go.” The song dropped with a music video on their YouTube channel on July 9. 

    Jimkata is an electro rock trio that evolved from their original jamband roots, to a more electronic sound. The band started at Ithaca College back in 2005 with Evan Friedell (vocals, guitar), Aaron Gorsch (guitar/keys) and Packy Lunn (drums).

    The trio grew up together in the Upstate college town of Oneonta and are the founding members of the band. Dave Rossi served as bassist until 2015, having joined the band after meeting the other members during his freshman year at Ithaca College. Jimkata became a local favorite in Ithaca and across New York state before taking their indefinite hiatus in 2016.

    “Wanna Go” dropped shortly after the band teased of new music on their Facebook page starting back on June 16, 2020. They released a new clip of them working on new music every few days with all the titles together reading, “ DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD RELEASE SOME NEW MUSIC?”

    The new song comes on the coattails of the release of a Greatest Hits Album, Best, on June 12. Jimkata left a quote on the album’s release saying, “All the best things seem to surface after the worst times, all the worst things seem to come around after the best times…”

    To check out the teaser videos check out Jimkata’s Facebook.

    The video features the band setting up a living room and sitting on a couch in a picture frame. There is a theme of being surrounded by the color yellow in the video, and in the teases released and on their website. The song is boppy – a solid return to the music realm for Jimkata. 

    For more information on Jimkata visit their website or their Facebook Page.

  • moe. to get down at Vernon Downs July 31 and August 1

    moe. has announced ‘moe.’s Miracle Mile,’ a live drive-in concert, to be held at Vernon Downs racetrack on July 31. The event marks moe.’s first live performance since March 10 in Telluride, CO.

    While the July 31 show is sold out, tickets are on sale now for the recently announced August 1 show.

    The concert will begin at 7 PM on July 31 with all tickets needing to be purchased in advance. Car rates are between $150 and $260 depending on where you would like to park. Video screens and festival-style sound can be expected to make the first moe. show since March as enjoyable as possible. Find out more details, including what you can and can’t bring to the show here.

    moe miracle mile
    moe.’s Miracle Mile – July 31 & August 1, Vernon, NY

    Limited presale begins on Monday, July 13 at 10 AM, with full on sale on Tuesday, July 14 at 10 AM ET. Enter to win a free vehicle pass here.

    moe. has just released This is Not, We Are, their latest studio album. Listen to all the tracks here.

    The last time moe. played at Vernon Downs, they were the first of three bands for an immense triple bill that included Willie Nelson and Family, and The Dead.

    moe. at Vernon Downs, June 29, 2003

    Setlist: Okayalright, Bullet>Water>Moth>St. Augustine, Timmy Tucker>Moth Reprise

  • Saratoga’s Caffe Lena set to reopen during Phase 4

    Saratoga Springs‘ famous 60+ year old concert venue, Caffe Lena, has begun preparations to reopen, as performance venues are given the green light during Phase 4 of New York’s reopening plan.

    In a press release Caffe Lena’s Executive Director Sarah Craig explains their plan:

    “We’re taking it in baby steps, starting with 25% capacity. Live performance venues were the first to shut down, and they’re the last to reopen. It’s essential for the future of music that we work out a way to open stages safely. Our goal is to meet and surpass the NYS Health Department guidelines.”

    The venue’s first regular concert will take place on July 14 with ensemble members from the New York City Ballet. Serving as an alternative opening night due to the cancellation of their Saratoga Performing Arts Center performance, the five musicians will be able to play for 12 parties as well as hundreds that will be tuning in via an online stream. In compliance with social distancing, guidelines seating will be in groups of two to four with no individual tickets being offered at this time.

    https://youtu.be/UCH4LeK8iY4

    When New York hit pause in March Caffe Lena was forced to close its doors to the public. Due to designation as an essential business for live broadcasting use, the seats remained empty but thousands watched via the venue’s Youtube channel, concerts taking place on Lena’s stage.

    “Recognizing that many of our patrons are not in a position to return to public gatherings, we’re becoming a kind of hybrid live-stream and live-audience venue,” explained Craig. “From now on, our headline concerts will be available in real time via Vimeo for a small fee, and our community programs and shows featuring local amateur talent will be streamed on YouTube for free.”

    Tickets and Information about Caffe Lena’s upcoming schedule are available on their website.

    Upcoming Schedule:

    July 14 – Franz Schubert’s Trout Quintet

    July 15 – Bluegrass Night with High Peaks Bluegrass Band

    July 17 & 18 – Aztec Two-Step

    July 19 – Erin Harpe Country Blues Duo

  • Brooklyn Bowl Celebrates 11th Anniversary

    Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg is celebrating their 11th Anniversary on FANS, this Friday, July 10. The livestream, fueled by Lagunitas, is set to feature 11+ hours of music with artists who’ve become Brooklyn Bowl family over the years: Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, Fantastic Negrito, Lotus, Soulive, Phil Lesh, and The Terrapin Family Band, The Soul Rebels, a tribute to Melvin Sparks ft. The New Mastersounds, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Anders Osborne ft. Scott Metzger, and more.

    Don’t miss special appearances by The Robyn Party, Tash Neal, Karina Rykman, Simon Allen, Andy Falco, Brandon “Taz” Neiderauer, Scott Metzger, Doom Flamingo, and Nicki Bluhm.

    Donations will go directly towards the Jazz Foundation of America to support the music of our future while you watch. Party Brooklyn Bowl-style via Fans.com.

    “We started Broolyn Bowl to bring people together to enjoy the magic of live music. We has a great run, open every night of the week, with people coming from every direction, and e loved hosting every type of musician and fan that you can imagine. Then we had to stop. Even though our stage is dark, we are still turning 11 years old. Having a birthday during this difficult time makes us want to get back to doing what we do more than ever. We will be back.”

    – Peter Shapiro, founder Brooklyn Bowl

    “We have had a lot of fun in our first 11 years! Because we’re closed temporarily, we now exist as a glowing sense memory of warm vibes, soft light, great sights, and sounds. A place that became a refuge from the ordinary crap in modern life. A place where we rediscovered the simple magic of coming together to celebrate life. This anniversary comes at a moment of enormous pain, stress, and loss for so many of us. But it’s also an opportunity — a giant reset button. All of us can practice greater kindness, mindfulness, and generosity of spirit. We all need to love each other and pull together. We will be back!”

    – Charley Ryan, founder Brooklyn Bowl

  • Card Reader releases emotional single about life and death

    Long Island based pop-punk band, Card Reader, released their newest single, “Sore Eyes,” in honor of the loss of a close friend to lead vocalist Tom Petito.

    (From left to right) Guitarist Marc Lambert. guitarist/vocalist Tom Petito and drummer Rob Cigliano.

    “I wrote this song after I lost a close friend. The message is resounding: life is short, any day could be your last so don’t settle for less. Go after your dreams unapologetically,” said Petito.

    Card Reader made their first appearance to the music scene earlier this year with their debut single and music video, “Familiar Voices.”

    Petito, drummer Rob Cigliano and guitarist Marc Lambert worked with other bands for 10 years until Petito wanted to start his own project and formed the trio. Petito said the creation of the band was to put passion at the forefront.

    Card Reader has struggled since live music has been put on halt, but are determined to get their EP released by fall.

    The band’s motto states, “believe in yourself unapologetically. Don’t settle for anything less than what makes you happy in life and in music. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and put your own stamp on what being in a band means.”

  • Turkuaz Launches Variety Show, “HEY YOU, STAY TUNED”

    Brooklyn-based funk band Turkuaz recently launched their latest creative endeavor this past with “HEY YOU, STAY TUNED,” their hour-long recurring variety show available exclusively through the band’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

    hey you stay tuned

    The pilot episode sees the eccentric nine-piece ensemble partake in a Hollywood Squares parody, aptly entitled “Turkuaz Squares.” Comedian Brett Siddell, who also recently launched his own comedy special via Vimeo, acts as announcer, while Sirius XM’s Ari Fink hosts the show. Additionally, special guests Andy Frasco and Eric “Benny” Bloom appear as contestants on the game show.

    Gameshow antics are accompanied by a pop up video replay of Turkuaz’s official music video for 2017 single “On the Run,” which stars Chris Roberti from HBO’s High Maintenance and Comedy Central’s Broad City. Fans are also treated to never-before-released content from the band’s recent None’s A Ton concert film, with “Nightswimming” and “Coast to Coast” footage from the film spliced in. 

  • Woods Fest Music Festival postponed until 2021

    Woods Fest Music Festival postponed its third annual festivities until 2021. The COVID-19 outbreak caused the festival to be moved till next year to protect everyone involved. The lineup includes local favorites like The Roots of Creation, The Old Main, and West End Blend. 

    The festival will take place the same weekend it usually does in August next year on August 7-8 of 2021. The festival will be held at Woods Valley Ski Area on State Route 46 in Westernville. Woods Fest was planning to expand to being a two days festival this year with limited camping available on site and is planning that same structure for 2021. The festival will be back with a newly renovated Woods Valley chalet as the backdrop next year.

    “We are very disappointed to have to cancel this year’s event as it has quickly become an annual celebration of Central New York’s music, art and culture in its two years of existence,” The press release stated. It continued saying, “However, we feel the most prudent thing to do is to postpone this event until next year.”

    The 2021 festival will have The Roots of Creation, The Old Main, West End Blend, Annie in the Water, Strange Machine, Blind Owl Band, Wild Adreatic, Sixfox Whiskey, Les Brers, Maddy Walsh and The Blind Spots, Brickdrop, Trampoline Jetstream, Kluster Phunk, Vaporeyes, Peak, Ramblin’ Brooks Band, with more to be announced. 

    For more information on the Woods Fest Music Festival visit their Facebook Page.

  • CFCU Summer Concert Series Takes to the Virtual Stage

    CFCU Summer Concert Series is coming back in 2020 taking to the virtual stage. The concert series will start on July 9 and runs every week  until September 24. The concert series will include big names like Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People, Terrapin Station, and The Gunpoets.  

    This will be the CFCU Summer Concert Series’s 21st annual free concert series in Downtown Ithaca, NY. The concert series is organized by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance and CFCU Community Credit Union is the keynote sponsor. The Ithaca Downtown Business Improvement District (IDBID) operates as The Downtown Ithaca Alliance. It is a 01c3 not-for-profit organization charged with the revitalization, development, promotion, and management of downtown Ithaca. 

    The concert series will kick off with Luke G & the Candyhearts on July 9. The series will than host: Empire Kings, Mr. McBean, Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People, Notorious String Busters : Mijail Martínez & The Cantina Ramblers, Fall Creek Brass Band, Terrapin Station, Alex Cano, Maddy Walsh and the Blind Spots, The Comb Down, Gunpoets, Swamp Kids, and then wrap things up with Kevin Kinsella on September 24.

    The concerts are usually held at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Commons; however, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the shows will appear virtually on Downtown Ithaca’s Facebook page until further notice. The series will feature a variety of musical styles, with local, regional, national, and international performing artists and will start at 6:00 pm every Thursday.

    For more information about the CFCU Summer Concert Series and other Downtown Ithaca summer events, visit www.downtownithaca.com or check out Downtown Ithaca’s Facebook Event Page. To listen to a selection of music from this year’s performers, check out our 2020 Summer Concert Series Playlist on Spotify.

    The 2020 CFCU Summer Concert Series Schedule and lineup: 

    July 9    Luke G & the Candyhearts

    July 16  Empire Kings: Mr. McBean

    July 23  Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People

    July 30  Notorious String Busters : Mijail Martínez & The Cantina Ramblers 

    Aug. 6  Fall Creek Brass Band

    Aug. 13 Terrapin Station

    Aug. 20 Alex Cano

    Aug. 27 Maddy Walsh and the Blind Spots

    Sept. 3  The Comb Down

    Sept. 10 Gunpoets

    Sept. 17 Swamp Kids

    Sept. 24 Kevin Kinsella

    Check out this stream and more through our series NY Stream and Support, where you’ll discover artists around the Empire State streaming nightly, and ways to support musicians and charitable groups close to home!

  • American Singer-Songwriter Charlie Daniels Dies at 83

    Charlie Daniels, legendary American singer-songwriter, died at the age of 83 on July 6 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. He was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and wrote the hit, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

    Charlie Daniels
     Charlie Daniels in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Photo by Dwight McCann.

    Daniels was born on October 28, 1936, in Wilmington, North Carolina. He had a musical background with his father William Carlton Daniels who played fiddle and guitar. Daniels quickly learned both instruments while in school before forming his own group the Jaguars, in the late 1950s.

    Daniels started writing his own music after forming Jaguars and ended up writing “It Hurts Me,” which was a collaboration with Joy Byers that ended up being a Top 40 hit for the B-side of Elvis Presley’s album Kissin’ Cousins in 1964. After Jaguars broke up Daniels moved to Nashville in 1967 and teamed up with producer Bob Johnston. Daniels became a well known and successful session musician. He worked on albums like Bob Dylan’s “Nashville Skyline” and Leonard Cohen’s “Songs of Love and Hate.”

    Daniels then recorded his first album under his name in 1970. The solo album was titled “Charlie Daniels” and didn’t make much of a splash. He then signed with Kama Sutra label and recorded “Uneasy Rider” before he ended up landing with Epic Records in 1975. Having two dozen hits on the country charts and four then crossed over on to the pop charts including “The Devil” and “In America” Daniels was a house hold name. The hit song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” was written and released on the Charlie Daniels Band’s album Million Mile Reflections in 1979.

    Danial received the Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music in 1998. He than received the BMI Icon Award at the 53rd annual Country Music Awards in 2005. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

    Daniels will be greatly missed from the music community. We mourn his loss and send our condolences to his family and friends.