NYS Music 202​0

Category: News Desk

  • Frank Palangi Releases EP “BRING ON THE FEAR”

    Upstate NY indie rock singer and guitarist Frank Palangi has released his EP “BRING ON THE FEAR.” The self-produced hard heavy Rock artist who can do anything and everything he sets his mind to has the type of personality that doesn’t give up; no matter what it takes. Palangi exhibits confidence, determined to pursue his passion for music. He fuels a refreshing positive outlook serving up a feeding frenzy of edgy heavy guitars, deep n gritty vocals.

    Frank Palangi discusses his new EP:

    After my 2017 “Set Me Free EP” I was doing a lot of shows/opening slots and getting into more of the recording side which lead me to a year and half experience with producing, mixing and writing the 4th installment. I progressed and learned so much through that time through books, videos and interviews about mixing and with upgraded my home studio equipment. The songs I always knew would be apart of the same CD double EP had to be similar but still new and exciting vs I Am Ready CD (2013). I teamed up with few of my favorites to work with from Lester Estelle (Kelly Clarkson) – Brian Craddock and Brandon Maclin from Daughtry for some studio work. I had self produced a single or two before but always working with producers and mixers on my main EP”s, this really made me step up and think about the whole process a lot more. This is more gritty and heavier than the “I AM Ready” release. No reason for it, just led me in that direction with the love of heavy rock. With my wide variety of influences, I did somethin more constant which may not be always the cause for the future.

  • Tribute to Jazz Legend Jimmy Heath Announced at Flushing Town Hall

    Flushing Town Hall announced a tribute to the late Jimmy Heath, nicknamed Little Bird in the industry, who was an NEA Jazz Master and Queens Jazz Orchestra Music Director. Heath passed away back in January of 2020 at the age of 93 and was a jazz legend for his saxophone skills in particular. The event will be live-streamed on Flushing Town Hall’s Facebook page on Friday, June 19 at 7:00 PM. 

    Percy Heath (Left) and Jimmy Heath (right) performing in June 1977.

    Jimmy Heath received three Grammy nominations over the years. He was nominated for Best Historical  Album with John Coltrane: The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (Album) during the 38th Annual Grammy  Awards in 1995, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance with Little Man, Big Band (Album) during the 36th Annual Grammy  Awards in 1993, and Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group with Live At The Public Theatre (Album) during the 23rd Annual Grammy  Awards in 1980. Jimmy Heath was also a recipient of the 2003 NEA Jazz Masters Award and in 2004 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Human Letters. With performing in over 100 albums and writing over 125 compositions Jimmy Heath was truly a legend in the Jazz world. 

    Flushing Town Hall plans to honor him with this special tribute by including appearances by many celebrated musical artists who have crossed paths – and taken the stage – with Jimmy Heath throughout his career. People on the docket include Jimmy Heath’s wife, Mona, and jazz legends Albert “Tootie” Heath, Barry Harris, Jimmy Owens, and Dorthaan Kirk; and members of Queens Jazz Orchestra, including Antonio Hart, David Wang, Jeb Patton and Douglas Purviance. On top of the musical component of the tribute there also will be testimonials about Jimmy Heath from special guests such as New York City Council Member Francisco Moya.

    Flushing Town Hall seemed like the right venue for this tribute for Jimmy Heath according to Town Hall Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek because, “Jimmy Heath was an iconic presence at Flushing Town Hall. Whenever we would announce that our Queens Jazz Orchestra would return, performances would sell out – because people wanted to come together to experience the music and the man.” 

    The event will take place Friday, June 19 at 7:00 PM and can be viewed for free on  Flushing Town Hall’s Facebook page. Donations will be accepted to support the Jimmy Heath Fund at Queens College. They can be sent to: The Jimmy Heath Fund, c/o Mike Lipsey, Queens College Music Department, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, Queens, 11367. Donations are also being accepted for the Jimmy Heath Scholarship Fund at Queens College. They can be made by writing a check to the QC Foundation (and putting “Jimmy Heath Scholarship” in the memo), and mailed to: Queens College Foundation, Keily Hall, Queens College, Queens, NY, 11367, or by calling Joann Acquista, Queens College, Director, Donor Relations, at (718) 997-5864.

    For more information on the event visit Flushing Town Hall’s website.

  • “Small Business Live” Benefit Concert to Bring Support to Small Businesses

    Superfly has announced it’s “Small Business Live” concert to help support small businesses during these trying times. The one-day musical experience will raise money for the Accion Opportunity Fund and provide grants to the most at-risk small businesses that were hit hardest by COVID-19. It will do this while also having a focus on those businesses run by women, minorities, and people of color. Some of the big names on the docket include 2 Chainz, Nathaniel Rateliff, T-Pain, and Brandi Carlile among many others. The concert will take place on June 20 from 4PM – 10PM ET and can be viewed on many streaming platforms including YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. 

    Small Business Live

    The benefit will feature artists performing at different small business they feel strongly about. The musicians will be delivering their performances from different locations all over the United States and will be sharing stories about the businesses they know, love, and are trying to supporting with this benefit.  

    The benefit will be featuring 2 Chainz performing at and supporting K&K Soul Food in Atlanta, GA, Allen Stone performing at and supporting Terrain in Spokane, WA, Brandi Carlile performing at and supporting Easy Street Records in Seattle, WA, Brittany Howard performing at and supporting Fanny’s House of Music in Nashville, TN, JUFU performing at and supporting Envirobliss in Brooklyn, NY, Leon Bridges performing at and supporting Avoca Coffee in Fort Worth, TX, Moon Taxi performing at and supporting Grimey’s in Nashville, TN, Bam Marley performing at and supporting Sneaker Buyers in Miami, FL, Nathaniel Rateliff performing at and supporting Mercury Cafe in Denver, CO, and T-Pain performing at and supporting Knotzland Pittsburg, PA, and many more.

    The benefit is being put on by Superfly in partnership with TikTok, AT&T Business, GoDaddy, Vistaprint, Square, Bustle Digital Group. To donate to the cause please visit the Accion Opportunity Fund to support local and small businesses.

    https://youtu.be/2z3jP2Ae3CE

    For more information visit Superfly’s website for Small Business Live. 

  • Shemekia Copeland Releases “Uncivil War”

    Award-winning blues and Americana vocalist Shemekia Copeland has released her new song, “Uncivil War.”  “Uncivil War” takes no sides and speaks to every person’s desire to be safe and free. Featuring iconic mandolin Sam Bush, dobro master Jerry Douglas and background vocals from popular alternative band The Orphan Brigade, the song is simultaneously comforting and challenging, as Copeland sings, “Same old wounds we’ve opened before / Nobody wins an uncivil war.” Copeland delivers the song with passion and insight about the uncertainty in the world while still finding hope for the future. The song, written by John Hahn, will be featured on Copeland’s upcoming Alligator album.

    Copeland express the message she communicates in this song: 

    It’s not just a song. I’m trying to put the ‘united’ back in the United States. Like many people, I miss the days when we treated each other better. For me, this country’s all about people with differences coming together to be part of something we all love. That’s what really makes America beautiful.

    When she first came onto the scene at age 18 with her debut album, Turn The Heat Up, Copeland quickly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. Copeland’s previous album, America’s Child, won the Blues Music Award for Album Of The Year, and was named the #1 blues album of 2018 by MOJO magazine. Copeland recently received the 2020 Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year, during a special online ceremony. Copeland is currently hosting her own blues radio show on SiriusXM’s Bluesville. 

  • ‘Live from Here’ with Chris Thile Canceled Amidst Budget Concerns

    On Tuesday, Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media jointly announced in a statement that the national show ‘Live From Here with Chris Thile’ will come to an end, along with 28 jobs will be cut due to budget concerns that have occurred since the start of COVID-19. Also canceled is ‘The Hilarious World of Depression,’ a podcast hosted by John Moe.

    These cuts come after much consideration to keep MPR and APM running as is. Last month 14 staff members took voluntary staff buyouts in hopes of saving other staff members jobs. Among those announcing they’re leaving MPR/The Current is multimedia producer Nate Ryan and podcast producer Jeyca Maldonado. Despite these buyouts and money raised through emergency fundraising, the staff reduction and program eliminations could not be avoided.

    Additionally MPR and American Public Media stated that executive pay will be cut by 20-35 percent, all 2021 pay raises are canceled and the reduction of working hours. At this time any unionized journalists and staff will not be effected by the cuts according to MPR/APM union representatives.

    chris thile Live from Here
    Photo credit: Brantley Gutierrez

    MPR says the cuts it made were done in a way that “aligned with our mission, values and long-term vision” and “protects our core strengths” in an effort to provide programming that their audience wants while maintaining in a time of financial uncertainty.

    MPR added, “We will find new ways to give you more control over when and how you listen, and greater access to our content on your favorite media devices. We’ll offer fresh, distinctive programming that deepens our value to you and attracts new audiences. We will double-down on trusted, in-depth information that engages and equips you to make informed decisions about your health, the economy and our democracy. And we will invest in understanding and addressing the systemic issues of racism and inequities further exposed by the killing of George Floyd.”

    ‘Live From Here’ started in 2016 with musician and songwriter Chris Thile at the wheel after the phasing out of ‘A Prairie Home Companion’. Broadcasting via public radio for two hours weekly from legendary Town Hall in New York City. With its blend of musical performances, comedy and audience interaction delivered by Thile and his wide range of guests, the show was an unique experience  for audiences nationally.

    Chris Thile expressed his excitement and hope for the show when he told NYS Music during an interview in September, “We have this two-hour canvas that we get to paint every week and there is a lot of space for things to happen and it feels good being in a place like this where on any given night there are hundreds of wonderful things happening”.

  • Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Plans to Shut Down

    Long Island’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is shutting down according to a Bloomberg report and will be shut down indefinitely until new investors can be found. Nassau Coliseum is just one of the many venues suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Phish Performing December 1, 2019 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Photo taken by Thom McKenna.

    The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened in 1972 and is used for all sorts of events including sporting events, large exhibitions, shows as well as trade shows, and of course concerts. The coliseum hosted big names like Elvis Presley, The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Beach Boys, Queen, and many, many others.  The coliseum went through renovations back in 2015- 2017 and currently has a seating capacity of 14,500.

    According to posts on Bitcoin Prime, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov’s Onexim Sports and Entertainment who operates the venue decided to shutdown the coliseum indefinitely while they seek investors to take over operations. Once they have found a new investor they will have the lease turned over to the new investor and have them pick up the remaining debt on the building which is roughly $100 million in loans on it in return.

    According to the Bloomberg report, Onexim Sports and Entertainment’s explained that, “The unforeseeable and unprecedented Covid-19 crisis has had a devastating effect on the operations of the Coliseum and its finances. While we still believe in the enormous long term economic value of the Coliseum and the development of the surrounding land, we recognize that such value will be best realized by other parties.”

    The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum has been an essential part of the entertainment scene on Long Island for many years and hopefully will be able to continue to do so once they find a new investor. For more information read the Bloomberg report or visit The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum’s website.

  • A Drive-In double feature with Jocelyn and Chris Ardnt

    Thanks to COVID-19 restrictions, drive-in movie theaters across the nation are making an unexpected comeback. The currently closed Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (celebrating their 145th anniversary this year) is taking advantage of the resurgence at the Jericho Drive-In in Glenmont, NY, where local sibling duo Jocelyn and Chris Ardnt will headline a concert with their band. Tickets for their July 9 show can be found on the Troy Music Hall website for $50 per car, a price that includes a screening of the 2019 film Yesterday immediately after the concert.

    Both siblings of the duo have been compared to rock legends: Jocelyn’s voice with Grace Slick and Janis Joplin, and Chris’s guitar work with Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour. They’ve traversed both coasts while attending Harvard University, performing with artists such as G. Love, Danny Louis of Gov’t Mule, and Cory Wong of Vulfpeck and appearing on NBC’s Today Show.

    Even though this will be the first in-person concert in months for many, pandemic guidelines are still in place and drive-in patrons are expected to behave accordingly. Patrons must stay inside of their vehicles, and are required to wear masks if they need to step outside for any reason. While Jericho’s restrooms are still open, they’re encouraged for emergency use only. Since the Troy Music Hall Box Office is closed, questions about tickets and the show should be redirected to their phone number, 518-273-0038.

    Drive-in Jocelyn and Chris Ardnt

  • Rochester Events to Host “ROC’n RUN” Virtual Race to Benefit Out of Work Musicians

    Covid-19 has cancelled just about everything this year. Sporting events, graduations, and concerts have all been postponed or cancelled in some capacity. The Rochester Lilac 5k/10k is no exception to these cancellations. In the absence of the Lilac Fest, Rochester Events have established their first ever virtual run, the “Roc’n RUN.”  This event will benefit MusiCares, a non-profit organization formed by the Recording Academy, who usually run the GRAMMYS, to raise money to provide a much needed safety net for out of work people in the entertainment industry.

    roc'n run

    Rochester Events owner Jeff Springut stated “Although we’ve probably lost the Festival season, we’re giving not only our local community but anyone in the world a chance to tie up the laces and turn up the tunes! The virtual run and walk has a distance for everyone- and can be run anywhere- whether you are an athlete, music fan, or both!” This event was made possible by The Springut Group, a Rochester-based company with greater than 35 years of experience in bringing events to the community. They produce the Rochester Lilac Festival, Five Star Bank Party in the Park Concert Series, Midtown Eats, and other special events.

    The ROC‘n RUN event will take place June 26th – 28th and will host 4 races. The Summer Madness 5K, Lovin’ Summer 10K and Cruel, Cruel Summer Half-Marathon, as well as a Schools Out for Summer 2-Miler for those under 14.

    Registration for the ROC’n RUN opened on Wednesday, June 3rd and can be found at their website.

  • Virtual Cabaret Announced in Celebration of Pride

    June usually marks a month of LGBTQ+ celebration with parades, festivals, musical events, talks, and etc but due to COVID-19 a lot of the normal festivities aren’t going to be possible this year. Luckily though, CNY Pride (Central New York Pride) isn’t letting this stop them from creating a way for members of the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate. CNY Pride is throwing a Virtual Pride Cabaret on June 20 from 7:30PM to 9PM. 

    The virtual cabaret celebration will happen via Zoom on the original date of CNY Pride’s Pride Festival. The cabaret will include an array of different performers from their original line-up for the festival. From musical performances, to drag performances, to belly dancing, the cabaret will have a little bit of everything for everyone. 

    The line-up includes Samantha Vega who will be hosting the event. Burlesque Performers Kitten N’ Lou who will be headlining. Amara Lee Dúpree, Athens Violet-Maraj, Celeste LeRue, Charlotte Diamond Star, Frita Lay, and Sparkle Royale will be performing Drag. Belly Dancer Tessa TrueHeart will be performing. Cabaret Fan Dancer Harlow Holiday will also be on the docket. Solo Musician Nicholas DiMaria and Vocalist Robert Denzel Edwards will also be making an appearance. 

    For more information on the virtual cabaret celebration visit CNY Pride’s Website.

  • Opera Saratoga Keeping the Love of Opera Alive with New Series

    Opera Saratoga has launched a new series of online programming called OPERA SARATOGA: CONNECT!. This comes in response to the recent limitations placed on many in the music industry from the Coronavirus Pandemic. Moving away from the standard path of releasing archived material that many other organizations have taken, Opera Saratoga has developed six new programs including Daily, Kids, Symposia, Classes, Trivia and Mentorship.

    Opera Saratoga’s Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson explained: “We have decided to launch programs for our audiences that have been created specifically for the way people engage online producing a combination of newly created video performances for social media, as well as new opportunities to enjoy and learn about opera that are more interactive. Opera Saratoga has always focused on building community. OPERA SARATOGA: CONNECT! was designed to allow us to do just that – connect digitally with our community. Each element of this initiative allows audiences to enjoy opera, classical vocal music, and musical theater in a different way, from short videos released every day throughout the summer featuring members of our Festival Artist program, to interactive trivia games, classes, and symposia, featuring guests from around the globe.”

    Programming will be a combination of free and a few paid activities to which there are scholarships available for those experiencing financial hardships during the pandemic. This will provide a wide opportunity for many to experience opera classical vocal music, and musical theater in many different ways right from your home. Complete details about each of the six programs as part of OPERA SARATOGA: CONNECT! may be found online. 

    For over 50 years Opera Saratoga, formerly known as Lake George Opera, has been a pillar in the upstate community for world class opera. Not only do they perform for more than 25,000 people at the annual Summer Festival but also have become the launching point for emerging operatic artists. They utilize not only their own stage but also the cultural, historic and natural resources of the surrounding Saratoga Springs, the Lower Adirondack and New York State Capital areas to bring unique and innovative opportunities to the public.  

    Check out below their newest opera ‘The Selfish Giant’ based on the classic children’s story by Oscar Wilde. This was produced remotely after the start of COVID-19 in partnership  with the New York City based company American Lyric Theater.